Seme command seizes over 2000 kg of smuggled rice, generates N 543m in may

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized 12 trucks containing 2,131 X 50kg bags of rice with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N23,973,750.00 .

The imported rice was smuggled through Ere-Creeks which border La­gos and Ogun state. There was no cas­ualty recorded.

Also, the command generated N542, 934 ,941.07 as revenue in the month of May, 2016 making 98 sei­zures with a duty paid value (DPV) of N83, 280, 340. About six suspects were also apprehended with the sei­zures made and are at different lev­els of investigations and prosecutions.

The Customs Area Controller dis­closed that fairly used vehicles that were escorted on transit accounted for 70 per cent of the duty collected, Baggage assessment and other taxes accounted for 13 per cent, while im­ported general goods accounted for only 17 per cent of the total revenue collected for the period under review.

The CAC attributed the success re­corded to the sharing of coordinated and credible information among of­ficers and men of the command, and support of the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hammee Ali (Rtd) who has zero tolerance for smuggling.

The Customs Command helms­man said the resolve by the smugglers to use the water ways is because the road/highway in Seme border is well fortified against smuggling activities by officers and men of the command.

He carefully supervised the evac­uation process; ensured the proper handling and usage of arms among officers under the tense atmosphere to ensure a hitch free operation. He also ensured that the entire seized product were monitored and transferred to the government warehouse.

“ The smuggled rice through the creek was stocked in an uncomplet­ed building when our men got the in­formation and stormed the Ere Creek – Ikoga for immediate evacuation of the seized product to Seme Com­mand.”

The Comptroller emphasized that investigation was on-going to unravel perpetrators of the act and to ensure that they face the consequences of their action. He warned that the Com­mand will continue to work round the clock to degrade all smuggling activi­ties across the frontier, since the Com­mand has all the necessary logistics and support to combat smuggling ac­tivities at the border.

On the revenue generated in may, he pointed out that the drastic re­duction in the importation of gener­al goods occasioned by the high ex­change rate and the low volume of economic activities across the fron­tier has had negative consequences on the revenue drive of the command.

However, he stressed that the in­crease in quantity of seizures record­ed with a correspondence decline in smuggling activities was as a result of the aggressive operation by the en­forcement unit of the Command to ensure total compliance to guidelines and procedures.

“ This has actually translated into exceptional seizures of greater magni­tude in the month of May, 2016.”

The Command helmsman enjoined all sectional/unit heads not to rest on their oars as the Command resolve to succeed in her given mandates can­not be compromised nor over empha­sized.