Ogun Customs rakes in N393m in June, seizes 37 vehicles, 3,000 bags of rice, other
The Ogun State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday confirmed generating a total revenue of three hundred and ninety three million, five hundred and twenty thousand, two hundred and eighty five naira and seventy one kobo (N393, 520,285.71) for the month of June.
Recall that the command had in May recorded a total revenue of N437,860,681.
This was revealed during a press conference organised by the command at the Idiroko Axis of the command.
According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Maiwada A.A., the command is now more determined than ever to put smugglers out of business.
In his words: “It will interest you to know that within the period of 4th June to 3rd July, 2018, we have generated a total revenue of N393, 520, 285.71. While in the area of anti-smuggling, the Command made seizures of 37 vehicles (21 Tokunbos and 16 means of conveyance), 3000 bags of foreign rice (50 kg each), 244 kegs of vegetable oil (25liters each), 208 pairs of used foot wears, 8 bales and 25 sacks of secondhand clothing, 152 cartons of frozen poultry products, 115 kegs of PMS (Petrol) of 25 litres each, 20 pieces of used handbags, 4, 220 cartons of tomatoes paste and 1 drone camera with a total Duty Paid Value of N236, 196, 835.”
Speaking further on the feats of the command, Maiwada said: “Also, during the period under review, unscrupulous mode of smuggling was uncovered by our patrol team when a truck loaded with six hundred (600) bags of rice out of which 501 bags were discovered to be foreign parboiled rice. Further investigation carried out revealed that the foreign rice was re-bagged in branded bags of a popular indigenous rice producer.
Permit me to seize this opportunity to inform you that within the last six months (half year) a total revenue of N2, 645, 741, 068.9 was generated and total of 276 seizures were made with the highest of seventy-two (72) seizures recorded in the month of June, 2018. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) stood as N1, 412, 785, 405.0. Items seized within the last six months include: 215 units of vehicles, 15, 976 bags of foreign rice (50 kg each), 1, 148 kegs of vegetable oil (25liters each), 24 units of motorcycle, 161 compressed book packs, 85 coconut packs and 8 sacks of cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp) among other items.”
The command’s spokesperson however appreciated the efforts of its management and staff towards achieving the great feats. He also said the command won’t rest on its oars to achieve greater feats in the second quarter of the year.
“The above success story was made possible by the hard work of Officers and Men of the Command and the support of NCS Management. We shall however not rest on our oars but strive to take the anti-smuggling crusade to greater height.
Although it takes desirous efforts to achieve success story, it requires extra energy and strategy to sustain such achievement. To this end, we promised to rededicate more efforts in achieving better performance in the second half of 2018 fiscal year.
We therefore sound a note of warning to smugglers and their accomplices to turn a new live or face the full wrath of the law. Nigeria Customs Service would not relent in bringing to book economic saboteurs/criminals who often violently engage/confront officers at various approved duty post, to the extent of destroying Federal Government properties, inflicting injuries on officers and being a menace to the society.
Finally, we wish to commend the patriotic role of our sister Agencies who have always partnered with us, more especially Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police Force, DSS among others,” Maiwada said.
