The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Oyo/Osun area command, on Thursday, said it has arrested no fewer than 10 suspects in connection with the smuggling of some prohibited items into the country in within the last eleven months.
The new area comptroller in charge of the command, Mr. Abdullahi Argungu, revealed this while speaking with newsmen at the commands headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The new comptroller who enjoined Nigerians who are engaging in legitimate businesses not to exercise any fear in going about their day to day activities, stressed that the suspects arrested in connection with the smuggling of prohibited items into the country are still awaiting trials
“Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with smuggling of prohibited items into the country in the last 11 months. By now, we are having ten suspects who are awaiting trials”.
Argungu, while speaking further, stated that the command in the last eleven months generated the sum of twenty one billion, nine hundred and fifty four million, two hundred and eighty six thousand, three hindered and eighty naira, ninety kobo (N21, 954,286,380.90
He said, “Subsequent upon my resumption, I embarked on a familiarization tour of the command to sensitize O/C outstations patrols leaders and the entire officers on the nerd to re-strategize and re-invigorate our operations by utilizing modern anti-smuggling techniques in accordance with international best practice in order to achieve the laudable goals of the anti-smuggling campaign of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“This has resulted in modest achievement as attested to by the under-listed seizures made by the area command between October 2018 till date.
“Eight used vehicles with duty paid value put at N20,180,876.39k, three thousand and ten 3010 (50kg) bags of rice with duty paid value put at N50, 556,678.25k, six hundred (600, 25 litres) kegs of vegetable oil with duty paid value put at N13,537,125.00k, Canabis sativa (Indian hemp) with duty paid value put at 6, 999,776.59, twenty five bales of second hand clothing with duty paid value put at N6,443,671.50k and thirty three means of conveyance with duty paid value put at N16,125,291.97k”.
He added that the federal government’s efforts in reviving the nation’s economy through local industries and strengthening security, especially at the nation borders, were of utmost priority to the service.
“It must, however, be stated that the command’s achievements were made possible by the continued support and encouragement of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali Ibrahim (rtd), who has continued to motivate and support the officers through the provision of brand new patrol vehicles. And it is our pledge that we will not relent in our efforts to justify the CGC’s huge investment in the anti-smuggling campaign”, the Comptroller indicated further, stressing Federal Government’s unwavering determination to reviving the nation’s economy through our local industries and strengthening security, especially at the nation borders.”. Argungu posited.
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