Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, Controller Federal Operation Unit Zone A, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has highlighted the various landmark achievements recorded in 2023 activities by rating the Command very high especially in the area of discharging it’s constitutional duties.
Comptroller Ejibunu who made this known while briefing journalists on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 on the successes recorded in last year.
“As a Unit charged with anti-smuggling function in the South West Zone, overseeing an area with international borders, busiest airport in Nigeria, and the two largest sea ports in the country, FOU Zone A area of responsibility is indeed wide.
” With the morale and logistics support from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we were able to prosecute the fight against smuggling diligently by making seizures, effecting arrests and collecting revenue for government in the course of discharging our functions.
“The report of our seizures and arrests being given attests to the relentless and uncompromising enforcement we deployed in the fight against smuggling in 2023. It is indeed a fallout of the positive energy and selflessness we displayed in the course of our work.
“Last year we made 1,119 seizures worth a total duty paid value of N10,395,123,943; comprising of rice, vehicles, marijuana, tramadol, used tyres, poultry products, footwears, petroleum products etc.
“The most prominent of the seizures is foreign parboiled rice which amounted to 139 trailer loads (83,170 bags of 50kg).
” A breakdown of other seizures includes 13,706 kegs by 25 litres of PMS, 8,372 Kg of Indian Hemp, 2,942 pieces of tyres.
“Others are 2,153 bales of used clothes, 3,095 cartons of frozen poultry, 320 cartons illicit drugs, 15 pieces of bullet proof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives, and 68 pieces of military camouflage, 450 drums X 106 kg of carbide, 1 X 40 ft and 2 X 20 ft containers found to contain charcoal
X. 132 units of foreign used vehicles.
“A total number of 136 persons were arrested at various points within our area of responsibility. They were suspected to be smugglers, and after due diligence of uncompromising of profiling and investigation, they were charged to court and are at different stages of prosecution.
“16 people were convicted through the Federal High Courts for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, being in possession of foreign parboiled rice and for being in possession of Pangolin scales meant for export.
Some other smuggling related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently.
“In 2024, we shall continue, through our legal seat, to follow all pending court cases to logical.
Comptroller Ejibunu also stated that the Unit was able to recover a total of N851,719,905.01 as revenue through meticulous document checking.
” We were able to identify shortfalls in duty payments from which demand notices were issued and accurate revenue were recovered.
These are revenues that would have been lost by the federal government to the pockets of some uncompliant business men” .
In its projection for 2024, Comptroller Ejibunu reiterated that “the battle to prevent smuggling will be intensified this year as we shall not relent in making seizures, arrests and prosecution of criminals who contravene the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. If they don’t desist from their criminal ways, this year will be tougher for them because they will lose their investments and freedom when arrested.
“Let me put on record that we shall lawfully arrest and prosecute any individual involved in the attack of our officers who are discharging their legitimate responsibilities. No attacker of our personnel will be spared from facing the full wrath of the law” he reiterated.
By Ajibola Adedoye