By Joshua Yousouph
In a bid to suppress smuggling activities, enforcing fiscal policies and generating revenue for the Federal Government, the Western Marine Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos has generated a revenue of over 2.2 billion naira in 2021. This is even has it has recorded a 100% increase in its fight against smuggling activities, along the South Western waterways and creeks.
While addressing newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, the Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, DC Enonche Ochiba said a large quantity of PMS were intecepted based on credible intelligence by Officers of Coastal and Harbour patrol (Bar-Beach) at Ashipa Beach along Seme Coastal Border area. According to him, no arrest was made as the smugglers took to their heels upon sighting the patrol team.
"Upon examination it was found to be Eight Hundred and Sixty Five (865) Kegs of 25litres each of PMS given a total of 21,625 litres. The total value of the seizure is Three Million Six Hundred and Thirty Three Thousand Naira (N3, 633,000.00)" he said.
DC Ochiba also noted that the Command has recorded unprecedented seizures ranging from Heroine, Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), Rice, Expired Drugs, Used Shoes, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and others with Seven (7) suspects arrested in connection with the seized hard drugs which were handed over to the NDLEA for possible prosecution.
According to him, between January and December 2021, the Command has generated with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) N2, 215,180,073.4 as against the total DPV of N1,104,647,370.00 in the Year 2020 which represents over 100% increase.
"As you are all aware that I took over the mantle of leadership of Command on 2 July 2021 and upon my assumption, I re-jigged the operational activities of the Command by creating patrol and surveillance teams to complement the efforts of our existing patrol teams cut across South Western waterways thereby achieving seamless and efficient operations.
"These records are strong indications that the operatives of the Command are working tirelessly to combat smuggling on the waterways. The record of seizure for the year 2021 is the total of seizures from 2017 to 2020 for the Command. The records are there with you and they can speak for themselves" Ochiba said.
Ochiba stressed that the men of the Command are vigilant and on patrol duties to tame the scourge of smuggling activities and other vices on the South Western waterways. He however warned smugglers and would-be smugglers to desist from smuggling as the officers will leave no stone unturned until you are apprehended and prosecuted.
He appreciated the Customs General Controller and his management team for the motivation and support given to the Command and also the efforts of other sister agencies in providing relevant information in the fight against smuggling.
"I will like to seize this opportunity to call on members of the public to provide the operatives of the Service with genuine information that would aid in the fight against smuggling in the Country. We are all aware that the Federal Government is paying huge amount of money in subsidizing the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the benefit of its citizenry, but the smugglers are sabotaging the efforts of the Federal Government for their gain at the detriment of all Nigerians.
"The operatives will continue to discharge the duty vested on them and will not rest on their oars in the fight against smuggling and drug trafficking" Ochiba concluded
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