95 Held as Customs Makes N2.5b

• 95 Held as Customs Makes N2.5b

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos has made N2.5 billion from its anti-smuggling activities and arrested 95 suspected smugglers.

The amount was generated between January and last month.

The command, findings revealed, intercepted contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1,295,600,724.95.

The unit also recovered N1,286,730,671.90 from duty payments and demand notices on general goods from importers.

The 95 suspects were arrested over the importation of foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, arms, fake pharmaceutical/medicaments and general merchandise.

The Area Controller, Mr Mohammed Uba Garba said the fear was achieved with the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd).

He praised the commitment and diligence of his officers and men because of their professionalism and advised them to be diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities; most especially in anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue linkages are blocked.

“Smuggling is a global phenomenon,which cannot be curbed entirely but can be brought to its barest minimum. This feat was not unconnected with the courtesy calls I paid to some key stakeholders most especially sister security agencies within our areas of jurisdiction comprising the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos; Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Cantonment Ikeja; Commander, 35 Artillery, Nigerian Army, Alamala Baracks Abeokuta, Ogun State; Commissioners of Police in Ogun and Lagos states where I sought for their continuous support and cooperation towards winning the war against smuggling, ” he said.

Comptroller Uba called on all the media and the general public to continue to support the service in the advocacy campaign against the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy and provide necessary intelligence that could assist the NCS in its operations.