By Kenneth Jukpor
The Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) made seizures worth N2.215,180,073 from January to December 2021.
When compared to the DPV of N1,104,647,370.00 in the Year 2020, the seizures collected in 2021 represents over 100% increase in DPV.
The Command’s Acting Area Controller, DC Enonche Ochiba revealed this during a press briefing in Lagos yesterday as he enumerated anti-smuggling feat throughout the year.
DC Ochiba who took over the mantle of leadership of Command on July 2nd 2021, stated that he re-jigged the operational activities of the Command by creating patrol and surveillance teams to complement the efforts of existing patrol teams cut across South Western waterways thereby achieving seamless and efficient operations.
He noted that the operatives of the Command under his watch 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.
“On Wednesday 8 December 2021 at about 0500hrs; in our continuing onslaught against smuggling on the waterways, the Officers/Men of Coastal and Harbour patrol (Bar-Beach) while on credible intelligence intercepted large quantity of PMS in kegs at Ashipa Beach along Seme Coastal Border area. Unfortunately, no arrest was made as the smugglers took to their heels upon sighting the patrol team”
“The Kegs were secured and evacuated to the base. 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.
Meanwhile, he seized the 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,” he posited.
He, however, maintained that officers of the Command are equipped in the fight against smuggling along the waterways as evident by the record of seizures in the year 2021.
Noting that the record of seizure for the year 2021 is the total of seizures from 2017 to 2020 for the Command, he said it is a strong indication that the operatives of the Command are working tirelessly to combat smuggling on the waterways.
Western Marine Command is the amphibious arm of the Service with the statutory responsibilities of suppressing smuggling activities and enforcing the Federal Government fiscal policies along the South Western waterways and creeks as enshrined in Section 149 (Power to search vehicles and ships), Section 158 (Power to patrol freely) and Section 167 (Provisions as to detention, seizure and condemnation of goods) of Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 (as amended).
