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The Nigeria Customs Service,Ogun 1 Area Command Idiroko have disclosed some achievement in curtailing smuggling activities in the state.
This was made known by the AREA CONTROLLER, COMPT. PC KOLO on Wednesday 19TH MAY, 2021 in Abeokuta the state capital.
He said, “the Command has been able to sustain its achievements in the area of anti-smuggling activities by recording another seizure of over 7,000 bags/50kg each of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent of 12 trailer loads). It is important to note the catastrophic damage this quantity of rice will cause to the Federal Government Rice Agricultural Policy if allowed to get into the Nigerian markets. Several other contraband goods were also arrested in various quantities ie frozen poultry products, Cannabis sativa (marijuana), Vehicles used as means of conveyance, used clothing and shoes, used Tyres, Sugar, Tomatoes in retail form, Body creams and Petroleum products (PMS) made for export. The cumulative duty paid value (DPV) for all the seizures in the month of April, 2021 amounted to One Hundred and eighty nine million, nine hundred and twenty three thousand, two hundred and ninety three naira only (N 189,923,293.00).”
The Custom boss recalled that Federal Government of Nigeria’s directive on border closure is still subsisting as such there is no revenue generated from imports and exports activities.
He added that,” Just a few days ago, another articulated truck bearing the inscription and logo of DANGOTE CEMENT CO LTD was intercepted along Ijoun border axis loaded with over six hundred (600) bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice heading to the eastern part of the country. Three (3) people were arrested including the driver of the vehicle and investigation is going to unravel those behind this act of massive smuggling activity.”
In addition,he said,”Recently, the command’s patrol officers came under severe attack from the daredevil smugglers, hoodlums and their sympathizers using pump action riffles, AK 47 riffles, Den-guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons at Oja –Odan in Yewa Southern part of Ogun State in which some command officers sustain gunshot injuries. The attack was successfully repelled and over three Hundred (300) bags of foreign parboiled rice was seized in that operation. Let it be known that these pockets of attacks on security operatives will not deter or discourage us from continuous onslaught on Smugglers , their sympathizers and other Economic saboteurs in Ogun state.”
He assured the public of civil engagement of his men,and a safer society.”Let me at this point once again thank our Critical stakeholders, Members of the media, other Security agencies and Traditional rulers for their collaborative efforts and synergy with the service while carrying out our statutory mandate in the state.”