In a bid to combat smuggling along the south-western waterways and creeks, officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command have intercepted 88 cartons of Caro White (Bleaching cream), 8,825 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and others worth One Hundred and Ten Million, One Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Four Naira. Fifty Kobo(N110,195,934.50), within the period of January to March 2023.
While briefing newsmen at the Command, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Odaudu Salefu gave a cumulative analysis of the seizures showing:
One Thousand Five Hundred and Nineteen (1,519) bags of
foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five (8,825) liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) contained in Four Hundred and Sixty-Eight (468) kegs of 25liters each, Seven Hundred (700) pairs of foreign used shoes, Twenty (20) used foreign ladies bags, Eighty-Eight (88) cartons of Caro White Cream (bleaching cream), Fifty (50) pairs of expired Tyres, Three (3) Outboard Boat Engines and One (1) Water Pumping Machines.
According to Comptroller Salefu, 5 suspects have been arrested and have been granted administrative bail pending when charges will be proffered against them in Court.
The CAC appreciated officers and men of the Command for their commitment and dedication to work, as well as the unflinching support and motivation of the management of the Nigeria Customs Service.
In his words, “I must salute the commitment, dedication, and bravery of our Officers and Men operating in the creeks and waterways amiss very risky and difficult challenges”.
“We must mention the unflinching support and motivation of the Management of Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali(Rtd) who has continued to provide all the necessary support and logistics for our operations, for this we are grateful and assure CGC of our unrelenting fight against these economic saboteurs”. He added.
Comptroller Salefu also noted that the Command also received four operational boats added to its fleet of boats.
“The Western Marine Command on the 28 of March 2023 and the 3 of April received in addition to its fleet of boats four additional operational boats consisting of two gun bouts and two logistics boats from NCS headquarters”.
He appealed to smugglers to embrace legitimate trade or risk facing the wrath of the law.
“To smugglers, I appeal to you to abandon economic sabotage and unlawful trade to embrace legitimate trade as WMC will not rest on its oars to rid our Creeks/Waterways of illegal trade practices and will continue to enforce Federal laws and policy restrictions”. He concluded.
