The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command on Tuesday disclosed its achiements in the first quarter of the year 2019. The command said it arrested no fewer than eight (8) suspected smugglers arrested in connection with smuggling of some prohibited items into the country between January and March this year.
The Customs Area Controller, Mr. Abdullahi Argungu made this disclosure while addressing a press conference at the command’s Headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
Argungu in his address said that the suspects arrested by his men were arrested in different locations within the command’s area of coverage in the two states of Oyo and Osun.
He insisted that the suspects who have been granted conditional bail would soon be charged to court after investigations have been concluded.
Argungu said, “Eight (8) suspects were arrested and subsequently granted conditional bail and will soon be charged to court. I must sincerely commend the dedication of my officers and cooperation of other units of Service and the synergy enjoyed from other sister agencies like the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Civil Defense Services Corps, Department of State Security (DSS) among others in the actualization of these achievements.”
Argungu disclosed that the command between January and March, intercepted no fewer than three thousand, two hundred and seventy (3,270) [50kg] bags of imported parboiled rice and seven hundred (700) 25 liters of kegs of vegetable oil, fifty bags of sugar, twenty bales of second hand clothings and other contraband goods with duty laid value put at one hundred and five million, seven hundred and twenty eight thousand, nine hundred and seventy four naira, sixty-six kobo (N105,728,974.66).
He added that the command generated the sum of Thirteen Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety sevyen Million, Four Hundred and Forty One Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Four Naira and Seventy One Kobo (N13,397,441,364.71) from excise duties in the first quarter of 2019.
Argungu said, “The command under my watch has continued to improve on its intelligence-driven strategy and has carried out series of operations at different locations within the command’s area of coverage, which has led to the following:
“One used arsh color Toyota Corolla with duty paid value put at Three Million, Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Eight Naira (3,003,628.00).
“One used white color Toyota Highlander with Duty Paid Value put at Four Million, Seventy Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Naira (N4,072,713.00); One used black color Toyota Prado with Duty Paid Value put at Twelve Million, One Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Eight Naira (12,112,448.00).”
“One used black Peugeot 607 with Duty Paid Value put at One Million,Two Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Fifty Six Naira (1,253,056.00); Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy (50kg) Bags of Rice with dyuty Paid Value put at Forty Nine Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Six Naira (49,634,676.00).”
“Seven Hundred (700) 25 litres of kegs of Vegetable Oil with Duty Paid Value put at Six Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty Four Naira and Forty Four Kobo (N6, 828,344.44); Fifty bags of Sugar with dutty Paid Value put at Eight Hundred Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Seven Naira (800,977.00).”
“Twenty (20) bales of second hand clothings with Duty Paid Value put at Two Million, Forty Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Naira (N2,047,920.00); Twenty Nine (29) means of Conveyance with Duty Paid Value put at Twenty Five Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Twelve Naira and Twenty Two Kobo (N25,975,212.22). The total duty paid value is put at (N105,728,974.66).”
“In the area of revenue collection, the command collected the sum of thirteen billion, three hundred and ninety seven million, four hundred and forty one thousand, three hundred and sixty four naira and seventy one kobo (N13,397,441,364.71) from excise duties in the first quarter of 2019.
“Let me also inform you gentlemen of the press of the sentence of one Mr. Bayo Mafo who was sentenced by the federal high court Ibadan to three years imprisonment for impersonating as a Customs officer and obtaining money under false pretences. This is not serve as a warning to others who think they can continue to reap where they did not sow to desist from such illegalities”.
In his conclusion, the Customs Area Controller said the officers and men of the Command will not relent in their efforts in fighting snuggling with a view to protect our indigenous industries, reviving ailing ones and, at long run, create wealth and jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.
