|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Oyo/Osun Customs Area Comptroller, Christopher Odibu has narrated how smugglers recently engaged officers of the Command in a gun battle.
The fierce battle, he disclosed lasted for four hours in a thick forest in an attempt to escape with their smuggled and contraband goods.
Addressing press men on activities of the command, he said the Customs officers later overpowered the armed smugglers as they escaped through the forest, leaving their prohibited goods.
He however revealed that one person was arrested in connection with smuggling of the prohibited goods into the country.
Expressing worry that some Nigerians had remained unrepentant despite the huge loss they incur in the illegal business, Odibu stated that government efforts in transforming the agricultural sector, especially in the area of rice production should be encouraged.
On the latest seizures made in its quest to rid the command of smuggling, he said 4,000 bags of smuggled imported rice were seized in the last one month along Opara/Bodo Musa axis of Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Other items seized in the course of operation include nine trucks, 150 used imported tyres, 51 bales of second class clothes, 50 gallons of vegetable oil and two used cars.
The Duty Paid Value of the seized goods is put at N92.8 million.
Analysis of the seized were DAF truck with registration number MUS 461 XK carrying 450 bags of foreign rice, another DAF truck with registration number EKY 597 XV carrying 450 bags of rice, a DAF truck with registration number EGB 530 XA, carrying 450 bags of rice, a blue DAF truck with registration number AGL 944 XC carrying 330 bags of rice, a white DAF truck with registration number AKD 977 XQ seized with 400 bags of rice and a green DAF with registration number SMK 226 XR conveying 450 bags of rice.
Others include a yellow DAF with registration number MUS 961XQ carrying 450 bags of smuggled rice, another truck with registration number LND 805 XG intercepted with 450 bags of smuggled rice, another yellow truck with registration number EPE 894 XG seized with 450 bags of foreign imported rice, a red Volvo wagon with registration number DG 32 MUS conveying 50 gallons of vegetable oil, a Mazda with 30 bags of rice, 51 bales of secondhand clothes, 150 pieces of used tyres and 90 bags of rice, estimated at the Duty Paid Value ,DPV, of N92.7million.”
Odibu who said the command has demonstrated outstanding performance and resilience within a very short period (about one month) he took over, attributed the technique through which the items were seized by his men to intelligence.
According to him, Customs operations globally require intelligence, which is the approach we are using now. Nigeria Customs Service at present is intelligence driven, that is why we are able to achieve positive results, as you can see here.
He said: “In keeping to the mandate of the Service, Oyo/Osun Command has re-strategised its operations by utilising intelligence reports gathered by officers and men, which led to the recent seizures.”
He warned that Customs will keep coming down hard on “unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in smuggling of used cars, foreign rice and other contraband goods”.
“I want to affirm that no matter the means of conveyance or concealment of prohibited goods, I assure you that the officers of this command are on constant surveillance and monitoring and we will discover them”.
“Let me sound a note of warning and advice to all unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in smuggling of used cars, foreign rice and other contraband items to desist and look for other legitimate means of businesses. I want to affirm that no matter the means of conveyance or concealment of prohibited items, our officers and men are on constant surveillance, as well as monitoring, and will uncover them”.
He however appealed to the media to partner with the command in enlightening our local communities about the dire consequences of smuggling on the nation’s economy.
Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan
