…As Anti Bunkering Team A bursts Petrol smugglers’ hideout
In continuation of its fight against smuggling, the Ogun I command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under the leadership of Comptroller Michael Agbara has intercepted fake currency notes worth N2.5 million at Ihunbo check point along Sango-Idiroko road.
The Customs Public Relations Officer of the command, Abdullahi Maiwada who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday said that upon interrogation, the suspect, one Samson Odebija disclosed that he was commissioned by one Alfa to help him transport the fake currency notes to Owode from Idiroko with a promise to reward him with N5, 000 before he met his waterloo.
Maiwada further informed that the anti-smuggling crack team of the command intercepted 40 drums of industrial alcohol known as ethanol, an item strictly stamped by the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for industrial use.
According to him, investigation revealed that some unscrupulous elements engaged in distribution of the product to Idiroko populace who ignorantly dilute the item with water and take it as alcoholic drink which he said was evidently harmful to the health of the people.
“In the same vein, the command anti-bunkering team ‘A’ while on information patrol discovered a smuggling hideout at Iko-gate along Idiroko road, leading to seizure of 160 jerry cans (25 litres each) of Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol.
“The daredevil smugglers device a crook method by hiding the tanker and then used other vehicles as shield from public view. They further nefariously constructed a pipe with an outlet sited in a cassava farm. The fuel is then siphoned into a tank and then into jerry cans with an intention to export the said items in batches outside the country.
“To this end, the CAC appealed to the general public to embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications. The eagle eye is all around Ogun state to halt new techniques adopted or will be brought up by smugglers to perpetuate their illicit acts”, he added.
Photo: Customs Area Comptroller, Ogun I command, Comptroller Michael Agbara addressing the press during the parade of the seizures in Ogun.
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