In its determination to get rid the activities of the smugglers and demonstrate its zero tolerance for smuggling, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo-Osun Area Command on Thursday said it has arrested no fewer than four persons in connection with various smuggling activities in both Oyo and Osun states in the month of January.
As the command has generated the sum of seventeen billon, six hundred and three million, three hundred and fifty nine thousand, seventy three naira, four kobo (N 17, 603, 359, 073.4k) in 2017 saying that the figure represents about 85.3% of the total target of the command in 2017.
This was disclosed by the newly resumed Customs Area Controller in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Controller Christopher Odibu while briefing journalists on the activities of the command.
He also disclosed that one suspect who was fraudulently parading himself as a custom officer has also been arrested and has been charged to court.
Odibu explained that smuggling poised a high threat to both economy and security of a country, noting that those perpetuating this evil act were considered economic saboteurs.
He maintained that the Nigerian Customs Service zero tolerance for smuggling is unalterable and that the service will do everything possible in its capacity to nip this ugly and illegal activities in the bud.
According to him, “It is very unfortunate and disturbing that despite the wide awareness on the dire consequences of the smuggling activities on economic growth and development, some citizens still find joy in perpetuating this evil act only for their personal gain.
“Overtime, the Oyo/Osun Area Command has bemoaned the incessant activities of smugglers within our territories/borders, an activity which has wreaked so much havoc to the Nation’s economy. We will not relent in intensifying our effort to curb this menace”.
The new CAC while speaking further said that the command in 2017 made a total seizure of one and and fifteen with the duty paid value of two hundred and fifteen million, five hundred and eighty eight thousand, five hundred and twenty eight naira, sixty three kobo (N215,588,528.63k with a promise that the command under his watch was determined to work harder to surpass the previous yeas in the areas of revenue generation and compliance.
Odibu while speaking on the efforts of his men in combating smuggling since his assumption on 17th January this year, also disclosed that his men since assumption of office have seized no fewer than 375 bags of rice, 271 Bales of second hand clothes, 60 kegs of vegetable oil, 2 trucks, 43 sacks of used shoes, 6 Tokunbo cars and 600 bags of fertilizer.
“Looking back on the last year 2017, the command generated the total of seventeen billon, six hundred and three million, three hundred and fifty nine thousand, seventy three naira, four kobo (N 17, 603, 359, 073.4k) which represents 85.3% of the total target.
“Meanwhile the command made a total of one and and fifteen with the duty paid value of two hundred and fifteen million, five hundred and eighty eight thousand, five hundred and twenty eight naira, sixty three kobo (N215,588,528.63k. This year, the command is working harder to surpass the previous year revenue generated. During the period under review, the command was able to record the followings seizures:
“One used Toyota Liteace (Tokunbo car), One used white color Toyota Dyna (Tokunbo) carrying 40 bags of smuggled rice and 12 bales of second hand clothes. One used blue color Peugeot 406 Saloon car, one used gold color Toyota Corolla car, One used green color Mazda premacy car, One used white color ford bus carrying 80 bags of smuggled rice, One used J5 carrying 80 bags of rice, One used dark blue color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags of rice, One used man diesel carrying computer assesories.
“131 bales of second hand clothes and 40 sacks of used shoes, One used dark blue Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags of smuggled rice. One used ash color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 20 bags of smuggled rice. One used grey color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags of smuggled rice. One used blue color Volkswagen gold saloon carrying 20 bags of smuggled rice. One used white color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags smuggled rice. One used blue color DAF Truck 12 tyres carrying 600 bags of fertilizer and 54 bales of second hand clothes. 35 bags of smuggled rice and 60 kegs of vegetable oil”.
The total duty paid value of the seized items according to him was put at seventy seven million, seven hundred and fifty three thousand, four hundred and ninety two naira, eight kobo (77, 753, 492.8k).
Editor, South-West,
Lagos Post Online
Email: raji_adebayong@yahoo.com
M: 08034094059
