CAC Awe Eradicates Pilfering In MMAC; Threatens To Deal With Anyone Cut In The Act

 By Stella Okocha 

Harboursandport.com:Lagos- July 9, 2025: :The Customs Area Controller, CAC of the Murtala Mohammed Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Micheal Toyin Awe, in an exclusive chat with Harboursandport.com, said the Command under his leadership has reduced incidents of pilfering of imports to the bearest minimum.

CAC of the Murtala Mohammed Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Micheal Toyin Awe,

The Customs boss acknowledged that pilfering has been in existence before his assumption of office but has been brought under control.

Awe highlighted the fact that pilfering is like smuggling that happens everywhere around the world and cannot be stopped, but can be greatly suppressed with the right strategy in place.

In his words, "Actually, I would not say there is nothing like that, you know it's just like smuggling all over the world, you can only suppress, you cannot stop smuggling all over the world. 

But on my assumption here, I think I have reduced that pilfering to the barest minimum. 

"As a matter of fact, they all know, once you are caught, the goods in question will be taken to government warehouse. "The agents will be taken to cell, and might remain in that cell for like two weeks or more."

When asked to know the measures that has been put in place to achieve the fit, the CAC explained that urgent and critical moves were put in place to curb the menace.

"You can't compare this place with Apapa or Tin-can , nobody can carry a container and say you want to jump out from the gate. Is it possible?  

"No way. It's not. But the system here gave room for such. Everybody can bear me witness. Some of the strategy we have put in place is that by the time we are releasing the goods, if originally you are to pay N2 million, that is not exactly what you will pay for goods that you stole. I will ask you to go and pay 10 million, which serves as punishment.  

"If you don't pay 10 million as duty, forget it, it will remain there. My gate officers are loyal, also my monitoring officers. Once you are caught with any stolen consignment or on operation, the necessary action will be taken immediately ".

When Harboursandport.com asked to know how officers are checked and monitored against conspiring with the perpetrators, he said "My officers are loyal, but if you are caught with such acts, you will be removed and you will be punished. I don't spare anybody on that. "Because that is economic sabotage. "Inflation of consignment, we are losing a lot of things. So I will deal with whoever is involved", he added.

Responding to the question on Customs brokers compliance within the command, the MMC boss stated that their compliance level has been quite encourageble, which has helped in the increase of generated revenue in the command .