The Oyo/Osun area Command of the Nigeria customs service, Tuesday, arrested eight suspected smugglers and seized goods worth N50 million in the border territories of the command.
The command comptroller, Christopher Odibu who stated this during a press conference at the command headquaters in Ibadan said some of the arrested smugglers have been granted bail while the case was ongoing for prosecution.
According to him, the seizures comprise of fairly used cars popularly called Tokunbo, trucks loaded with contraband goods, and buses used to convey bags of rice, vegetable oil and other contraband goods using yams and firewood as camouflage.
He warned smuglers to desist from going against the policies of the Federal government on importation, but rather comply on its anti-smugling policies.
He said:”about (8) suspects were arrested along with some of these seized goods, most of the suspects have been released on bail but the cases are in court for further persecution. Whilst investigation is still ongoing on some of the cases.”
Speaking on the amount generated between January and May this year’s, Odibu said the command has generated over N9 billion to the coffer of the Federal government, mainly from excise factories, despite some challenges facing the command.
“It is important to highlight the achievements of the command from January to May this year. During the period under the review, the command generated the sum of N9,436,241,792.56k to the coffer of the government mainly from excise factories. The figure represents 38percent of the revenue target given to the command,” he noted.
He, however, advised the public against the recalcitrant activities of economic saboteurs who still insist on engaging in the illicit business of smuggling or defrauding citizens to desist as they would not escape the long arms of the law.
Packaged by Ojo Peter
