The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area 1 Command, has intercepted 19 boat engines worth N17.322m and eight trailer loads of foreign rice during its anti-smuggling activities in the state.
The Customs Area Controller, Bamidele Makinde, disclosed this on Tuesday at the Idiroko headquarters of the command while briefing journalists on the activities of the command for April.
Makinde said the boat engines – five new and 14 used pieces- were reportedly abandoned at the bush part in the border area of the state by smugglers who took to their heels.
He stated that the command generated N6.05m from auction sales of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, which was intercepted at different locations and exit points to the Republic of Benin during anti-smuggling operations.
Makinde added that a total of 4,603 bags of foreign parboiled rice that each weighs 50kg (equivalent of eight trailer loads) were intercepted last month.
The Customs Controller said the command seized 37,450 litres of PMS (1,498 kegs of 25 litres each), 300 cartons of frozen poultry products, 197 bags of African oil beans, 3 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, 900 pieces of machetes, 7 bales and 7 sacks of foreign used clothing.
Other seizures include 2,195 pieces of foreign used shoes, 1, 020 pieces/451 pieces of new/used ladies’ hand bag, 89 cartons of foreign wine, 22 cartons of Noni Berry daily drink and 8 units of vehicles being used as means of conveyance.
According to him, the cumulative duty paid value of all the seizures in April amounts to N100, 132,756.
He expressed the hope that the command’s revenue generation would improve significantly following the recent reopening of the Idiroko border.
Bamidele insisted that the land border reopening only allows import and export of legitimate goods.
He said, “I wish to reinstate here that our intelligence network in the command is continuously strengthened for an improved and efficient performance.
“We deploy intelligence in virtually all our operations in the area and greater successes are being recorded on a daily basis.
“Let me warn the criminal elements in the state that in whichever way and methods you plan your smuggling activities, we shall definitely uncover it, make seizures and arrests which could inflict gross financial injury on such perpetrators.”
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