Following latest seizure of container of arms and codeine by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has said the service deserves commendation to encourage the fight against smuggling.
The Chief Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, in a statement said the group’s recent commendation of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi of winning war against smugglers has been justified.
“The interception highlights the ongoing efforts of the NCS to combat illegal smuggling and ensure the security and well-being of the nation.”
The group also commended the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu “for ensuring critical need for synergy among security agencies to combat interconnected issues like drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering, and human trafficking in the country”.
Arewa Think Tank had earlier noted that the newly formed tactical team, Operation Whirlwind, by the Customs CG with the aim of combating smuggling of petroleum products in particular to neighbouring countries was yielding successes while also raising alarm of the need for the service to pay attention to some northern states’ borders.
“Arewa Think Tank noticed that barely two weeks after Nigeria Customs Service launched “Operation Whirlwind” a decisive onslaught against illegal trade of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, has started recording massive turnout in curtailing the menace of PMS smuggling across the federation.
“The initiative has indeed reduced pressures that may be attributed to the activities of smugglers and dismantle their cartels within the ecosystem, and there is a relative stability of the price of PMS around the Border States which is easily attributed to disruptions in the operations of smugglers.
“We are commending the Comptroller-General of Customs for having the great zeal and the expectation to protect Nigeria’s economic interests with unwavering dedication and integrity”, the statement read in part.
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