…Rakes in over N2.6 billion as revenue in five months
…Facilitates export valued at over N35.1 billion
…Set up desk address alleged molestation of women by security agencies
The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has said that it has arrested a total of eighteen (18) suspects in connection with different seizures made by the command between the months of January and May 2024.
Some of the seizures intercepted by the command within the period, totaling about Four Hundred and Seventy Four (474) included: 12,448 Jerrycans x 30 liters each equivalent to eight (8) tanker loads, 6,467 bags of 50kg, which is equivalent to 10 trailer loads, 15 used vehicles as well as 1, 251parcels of cannabis sativa.
Others include: 20 live parrots, 2 honey badgers, 2 Pelican birds, 404 live tortoises, 3, 023 items, 149 packs of Codeine as well as 45 pieces of used tyres.
Speaking during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters at Seme earlier today, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi stated that eleven (11) of the arrested suspects were granted administrative bails, three were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA for further agency action, one was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 4 suspects were still in their custody.
Bomodi further revealed that the command recently arrested a notorious smuggler whose reign of terror in this area, he said, had come to an end as he would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He noted that there has been a marked increase in the illegal importation of Cannabis from Ghana adding that different methods had been used by criminals in their effort to beat the officers, all of which he said had been neutralized.
The CAC, however, disclosed that all the seizures made within the period in review had a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Eight Hundred and Forty Million, Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Six Naira (₦840, 003, 646.00).
Speaking on revenue collection, Comptroller Bomodi maintained that the Command had continued to sustain the tempo in the area of revenue collection adding that “In the period under review, we collected a total sum of Two Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Million, One Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Five Naira Fifty Three Kobo (N 2, 634, 190, 645.53).
This amount, the Controller said, surpassed that of 2023 for the same period by 272%.
On export, he said the command facilitated One Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Eight (143, 468) Metric Tonnes of export produce, with FOB value of Thirty-Five Billion, One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-One thousand, Ninety-seven Naira Seven Kobo (₦35, 199, 971. 097.7) only which is equivalent to ($38, 461, 397.39).
He continued, “The NESS value paid is One Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Five Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Four Naira Eighty-Two Kobo (₦174, 518, 464.82) only. A total of Four Hundred and Six SGDs were utilized from January to May 26 2024 for export alone.”
He went on to inform that the command had also set-up a complaint desk to address issues concerning the molestation of females on this corridor saying, “We strongly frown at any act endangering the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of border stakeholders who go about their normal and legitimate businesses daily.”
“Stringent action shall be taken against any officer of any agency found guilty of molestation of any female on this corridor”, he added.
He thereafter, appreciated the profound cooperation of other government agencies in ensuring the peace, safety and security of our borders.
“Special mention will be made of the effort of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in this battle. Their unwavering support is crucial and we applaud their patriotic effort”, Bomodi concluded.
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