The Coordinator Joint Border Operations Drill Sector 3 Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba has again reiterated the sector’s fight against smuggling, just as the customs made fresh seizures which has now brought total seizure of the Sector from August 2019 to 96 with duty paid value of N1, 041, 082, 880. 00 and arrest of 45 suspects.
He also assured that the sector, in line with the directive of the Comptroller of Customs Service, Colonel Hammed Ali (retired) will ensure maximum revenue collection through the appropriate channels, as it is combatant ready to halt all the activities of economic saboteurs.
The Public Relations Officer, Kwara Customs Command, CHADO ZAKARI, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the sector Comptroller, Mohammed Uba Garba, stated this after the Customs Headquarters Roving team comprising of Nigeria Customs Officers, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS, Nigeria Police and other security agencies stormed a warehouse at Abayawo Area of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State and raided the place of 450 Bags of foreign Parboiled Rice of 50kg each.
The team in the early hours of Thursday, also stormed ITA-MERIN Area of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State where smugglers were in the process of offloading smuggled Rice into a residential quarters. The area was immediately Cordoned and 224 Bags of Rice evacuated to Customs house Ilorin.
Some of the other seizures made include thousands of bags of rice, kegs of Vegetable oil, Drums of groundnut oil, Jerry Cans of Petroleum Product, Bundles of Textile Materials, Bags of foreign fertilizer, Cartons of different brand of Beers, Units of Vehicles and Motor Cycles.
The Coordinator therefore appealed to the general public to embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications.
See full Statement below:
In order to contain the spread of Covid-19 Pandemic, Mr. President in his recent nationwide broadcast announced the lockdown of some States and the total closure of both Nations Airport and Land Border to avoid the spread of the virus. Despite announcement by Mr. President, some die hard smugglers defy the order and continue to carry out their nefarious activities.
Few days into the lockdown order amidst Covid-19 pandemic, the joint border operations drill Sector 3 have intensified anti-smuggling Operations in the zone with a view to curtail activities of economic saboteurs.
In compliance with order by Mr. President on the total blockage of our land borders, the Joint Border Operations (JBOD) Sector 3 covering North Central States (Niger/Kwara/Kogi and Benue States) under leadership of Compt. Mohammed Uba Garba has continued to make the Zone unfavorable for the Smugglers which had led to 44 Seizures from March, 2020 till date.
The Customs and excise Management act (CEMA) Section- 147 gives power to Customs officers to search and raid any premises suspected to house with smuggled goods. The Headquarters Roving team comprising of Nigeria Customs Officers, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS, Nigeria Police and other security agencies involve in this National assignment were recently drafted to a warehouse at Abayawo Area of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State suspected to stock pile with foreign par boiled Rice.
The store was raided and a total of 450 Bags of foreign Parboiled Rice of 50kg each was discovered to be smuggled in to the State, stored in residential apartment. The Rice was immediately evacuated to Customs warehouse Ilorin. We are still trailing those involved in the criminal act and will soon be fish out for prosecution.
Early hours of Thursday, the roving team also stormed ITA-MERIN Area of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State while smugglers where in the process of offloading the smuggled Rice into a residential quarters. The area was immediately Condon and the Rice were evacuated to Customs house Ilorin, after the examination, a total of 224 Bags of Rice was discovered.
The breakdown of the seized goods within the period under review include the following-
- 1,657 Bags of foreign par boiled Rice which brought the Total number of seized Bags of rice from August last year to 14,813 Bags of 50Kg each which is equivalent to twenty Two (22) Trailers of Rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 451, 685. 900
- 282 Kegs of Vegetable oil
- 898 Drums of AGO
- 1355 Jerry Cans of Petroleum Product
- 348 Bundles of Textile Materials
- 28 Bags of foreign fertilizer
- 66 Cartons of different brand of Beers
- 26 Units of Vehicles
- 8 Motor Cycles
This has brought the total seizure of the Sector from August 2019 to Ninety Six (96) with duty paid value (DPV) 1, 041, 082, 880. 00 with 45 suspects
The Sector wishes to reiterate its stand that there is no retreat on the fight against smuggling in whatever disguise. The Coordinator therefore appeals to the general public to embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications. The Sector is combatant ready to halt all the activities of economic saboteurs who want to perpetrate their illicit acts.
The Coordinator Joint Border Operations Drill Sector 3 Compt. Mohammed Uba Garba declared that we shall ensure that the maximum revenue collection is made through the appropriate channel of the service as directed by the Comptroller of Customs Service, Col Hammed Ali (rtd) We at the sector 3 are committed and determined not to fail in actualizing the goals of the Service that is to stem the activities of smugglers.
The policy of the present administration on suppression of smuggling activities, blockage of revenue leakages and maximum revenue generation without compromising national interest and security of the country is strictly adhered to.
The complete closure of our land borders as directed by Mr. President is fully in force as no stone is left unturned. Our effort in implementing such orders had led to repatriation of several illegal immigrants
To this end, the Coordinator assured that the Officers and Men of Joint Border Operations (JBOD) Sector 3 will not relent in their efforts to reduce smuggling to the barest minimum.
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