By Kenneth Jukpor
Anti-smuggling activities at Ogun 1 Customs Command led to the seizure of 57,758 bags of 50kg rice which amounts to 96 trailers from January to December 2021.
Revenue generated at the Command via fees collected from the auction sales of seized petroleum products and scrap metals from January to December 2021 was N41.193,829.00.
The Area Controller of Ogun 1 Customs Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi revealed this during a press briefing yesterday.
He also disclosed that despite the border closure 10 units of used vehicles, popularly referred to as tokunbo in local parlance, were seized in the year under review.
Other seizures included; poultry products, used tyres, second hand clothing, dangerous drugs (tramadol and cannabis sativa), palm oil, assorted soaps and cream.
He, however, noted that in January 2022, 3008 bags of 50kg each of foreign parboiled rice, an of equivalent of 5 trailer loads of 50kg rice have been seized.
The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of seized goods seized from January – December, 2021 was N1,378,276,656.00 while the DPV for goods seized in January 2022 was N106,145,791.00.
Noting that there is a remarkable increase in the number and quantities of seizures recorded in the month of January, 2022, Comptroller Nnadi said the Command was able to make these achievements due to aggressive stakeholder’s engagement, deployment of intelligence in all the operations across the state and structural reorganization of the Command.
Nnadi also observed an improved motivation of officers and commended the NCS management for the operational vehicles allocated to the Command recently and the provision of accommodation in various outstations of the Command.
Nevertheless, he lamented that on several occasions, officers while performing their lawful duties come under sustained harassment and attacks from dare devil smugglers and their supporters/sympathizers who use pump action riffles. AK47 riffles, local charms and other dangerous weapons to attack, kill and maim Officers.
“The Command will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public on social/economic implication of smuggling as well as performing statutory function of enforcing compliance in line with government fiscal policies.”
“Permit me to once more use this opportunity to appeal to parents and guardians residing in border communities to prevail on their children. wards and youths to desist from such criminal acts such as smuggling and attack on Security agencies”
“During my courtesy visit to the traditional rulers in various communities in the State and to the State Governor His Excellency Price Dr. Dapo Abiodun MFR, I sought for their support in combating smuggling and urged them to educate their subjects on the menace of smuggling and incessant attacks on security operatives discharging their statutory duties. It is gratifying to note that we are all on the same page on the need to improve on our relationship with a view to maximize the opportunities offered the proximity of the State to the border and develop trade in Ogun State,” Nnadi said.
