…Tightens border security against trans-border crimes
…Rakes in N317, 809, 119.63 in May 2017
The Seme area command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its anti-smuggling operations against trans-border crimes of illicit drugs trafficking and other vices.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu who made this known while handing over a dismissed officer caught with three hundred and ninety one kilograms (391 kg) of tested Cannabis sativa (Marijuana) to the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), disclosed that a lot of strategies had been adopted by the command to ensure that the busiest land border would be a “no go” area for trans-border miscreants and traffickers of any kind including small and light weapons.
Aliyu added that all necessary conditions were explored in line with the public service rule and the Customs and Excise Preventive Service Regulation before the officer was relieved of his appointment.
The Comptroller further noted that the punitive measures for gross misconduct of unruly behavior meted on the dismissed officer was to serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the service that may choose to be recalcitrant to warnings.
The command’s helmsman frowned at the alarming and disturbing rate at which illicit substances were being apprehended by officers and men of the command in an attempt to be smuggled through the waterways and land borders.
He reiterated that the leadership of the service would not shy away in purging itself of all unscrupulous elements who delight in dragging the image of the service in the mud; hence portraying the service subservient to other organizations because of criminal and irresponsible acts that were inimical to the ideals of the service.
He affirmed that Seme command would continue to protect the nation’s territorial integrity through the scanning of all imports and aggressive anti-smuggling operations of all illegal routes.
He stated that the measure must be taken because there was a lot of security threat and opportunities arising from international trade growth and global migration.
The 391kg of Marijuana handed over has a street value of N8 million.
In another development, the Seme Customs command has collected a total of three hundred and seventeen million, eight hundred and nine thousand, one hundred and nineteen naira sixty three kobo (N317, 809, 119.63) as revenue for the month of May 2017.
Also, the anti-smuggling unit of the command also made a total of 28 seizures with a duty paid value of thirty million, eight thousand, three hundred and eighty eight naira, zero kobo (N30, 008, 388.00) for the period under review.
In a related development, the Customs Area Controller while delivering the welcome address at the Customs Community Consultative Forum (CCCF) held on Sunday stated that the core mandate of the service could only be achieved under a peaceful atmosphere devoid of rancor.
He sought for the cooperation of all the stakeholders in the host communities (Baales, Youth and Opinion leaders), bankers and licensed customs agents as he enforced federal government policies.
The Area Controller said that by hosting different communities under the CCCF platform, the command had consciously differentiated the actual stakeholders based on their position of influence and location to the border command adding that the continuous mutual consultations always give rise to effective relation management whose benefit was reciprocal and symbiotic.
Also, the Comptroller while hosting the recent Joint Border Security meeting dwelled extensively on the need for inter-agency collaboration for effective border management, intelligence sharing and strict compliance with the ECOWAS Protocol along the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor; which he said would facilitate legitimate trade and enhance ease of doing business.
“As an institution of the Federal Government, the Nigeria Customs Service Seme Command remain committed to performing its statutory responsibilities without fear or favor; this is because the security, economic and socio-political development of the nation is dependent on effective and efficient management of its borders”, the Controller said.
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