By Ajibola Adedoye
Barely two months since he took over as the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest Ojike alongside his officers and men has intensified the fight against smuggling to curb its menace by engaging in intense patrols throughout the nooks and crannies of Kebbi State through the use of Intelligence to enhance the Command’s operations.
Sensitization of the host communities as to the dangers of smuggling also paid off leading to several seizures of items within the period under review.
In his interaction with journalists on Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Command’s Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, the Area Controller, Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) listed items seized within the time under review to include “212 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50Kg each and 28 bags of 25Kg each, 200 bales of used secondhand clothing (Jumbo size) and 50 bales of normal size, 10,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 39 lumps of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 78 rolls of Diclofenac Sodium and 300 wraps of diazepam tablets 5mg each.
Also Read
Others are “57 packs of Sex enhancement drug (Black Diamond), 150 Expired Powdered Milk, 50 pieces of used tyres and 20 pieces of rims, 20 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 20 bags of foreign sugar and 10 jerrycans of vegetable oils”.
According to Comptr. Ojike “the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items is one hundred and twenty six million, two hundred and seventy eight thousand, nine hundred and fifty nine naira, sixty kobo (₦126, 278, 959.60K).
“The PMS value is not included in the DPV because is given at our revenue generation section as receipts from auction sales.
“The Indian hemp will be handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while Diazapem tablets will be given to NAFDAC as the appropriate agencies to attend to the respective substance” he noted.
He aaded that achievement recorded by the Command was as a result of resilience and courageous effort of the Operations Teams, Intelligence Unit, Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) and collaboration with sister agencies.
He however appreciate the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for their continued support towards ensuring that smuggling activities are reduced to the barest minimum in the State, and to enhance revenue generation for the federal government.
For your Press Conferences/ Adverts/Media Consultancy/Support
Contact the Editor via WhatsApp +2349097600508/+2348032339384 or Email: news@dailyinsight.com.ng & shinaayo110@gmail.com