Ogun Customs Moves To Ensure Arrests For Every Seizure

The Ogun state command of the Nigeria Customs Service has revealed that its new operational system is geared towards ensuring that every seizure of smuggled items must have arrested suspects.

The State Area Controller of the Command, Sani Madugu, made this known while briefing newsmen on the seizures made by the command in the last two weeks at the Idiroko axis of the Ogun Area Command.

Madugu said the Command has reinvigorated efforts towards the apprehension and prosecution of smugglers to serve as deterrent to others.

He said, “The era of abandoned seizure without suspect has gone.”

He added that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures made within the last two weeks at the Idiroko axis and they will soon be charged to court.

The Customs boss said his command is redoubling its effort to tackle smuggling, as smuggling will break the economy of Nigeria if not checked.

He said, “This will break the economy of Nigeria if not checked, that is why we are redoubling our effort to tackle it.”

He listed items seized in the massive seizure as, 20 vehicles with duty paid value of N144,324,050, 18 vehicles used as means of conveyance with duty paid value of N10,129,425, 1060 bags of rice with duty paid value of N10,812,000 and second-hand clothings(five sacks and 30 bales) with duty paid value of N1,300,000.

He listed others to include eight motorcycles with duty paid value of N400,000, Vegetable oil(158 kegs) with duty paid value of N948,000, frozen poultry products(259 cartons destroyed) with duty paid value of N1,554,000 and petrol(150 kegs, auctioned) with duty paid value of N300,000.

Packaged by Alice Egbedele