Customs takes anti-smuggling war to ports of neighbouring countries

Harboursandport.com: Lagos --- THE Seme border Command of t he Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has taken its anti-smuggling war to port of neighbouring countries with a view to nipping the menace at the bud.

In a statement by the command’s public relations officer Mr. Taupyen Selchang said that the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller  Mohammed Aliyu said that the command has also commenced moves in  gathering classified intelligence on the berthing of some consignments in the neighbouring countries that are prohibited and restricted into Nigeria, and targeting Nigeria as her final destination.

He said “Our strategies to work on such information are only disclosed when the information are effectively treated.

The command therefore remains resolute in the enforcement of the Federal government policies across the frontier.

“ The surveillance of the command over the year has led to the arrest of over thirty two thousand bags (32,000) of smuggled rice with a duty paid value of over₦530million attest to the command’s uncompromising stand to working in conformity to the current reforms of the CGC.

“As a revenue generating institution of the Federal government, the border command apart from enforcing government fiscal policies have generated the sum of₦1,576billion  into the Federal government coffers, which represent 78% of the monthly revenue target allocated to the command from January to March.

“The command has also made a total of 270 seizures with a duty paid value of₦235million for the same period under review.”

“Being a renowned border that links most of the West African Countries  within the sub-region, and its pivotal role in the economic development of Nigeria and West Africa at large, it is a known fact that the corridor has attracted both legitimate international and local travellers across the frontier, this international attraction is also accompanied with its dare consequences of illicit and illegal activities like smuggling, Drug trafficking, human immigration/trafficking, terrorism and money laundering amongst others.