The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has confiscated 4,138 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 592 kegs of petroleum product and six sacks of cannabis Sativa during an anti-smuggling operation in August.
The command also seized 830 cartons of frozen poultry products; 15 units of both foreign used vehicles and means of conveyance; 6 bales and 15 sacks of used/second-hand clothing; 6 sacks and 90 pieces of used handbags, 16 sacks and 34 pairs of used shoes.
The Comptroller of the Command, Peter Kolo disclosed this on Thursday, while briefing newsmen at Idiroko Border Post, on the activities of the Command for the month of August.
He said the Duty Paid Value of the goods seized during the month amounted to N72.5 million.
On revenue generation, Kolo said N1,997,500 was generated through the auction of seized petroleum products and scrap metals in August.
‘Smugglers now instigating students against Customs’
The Comptroller raised the alarm that smugglers were planning to engage students of higher institutions of learning to embark on a campaign of calumny against operatives of the command.
He said that the recent allegation by some students that arm and ammunition were being imported through the land borders in the state was a calculated attempt to portray the customs in a bad light.
Kolo called the attention of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, members of the National and State Assemblies from Ogun, traditional rulers, authorities of tertiary institutions and other respected opinion leaders in the state to what he described as “emerging security threat”.
He stressed that no amount of campaign of calumny and blackmail against customs by these groups and their sponsors would dampen the morale of men and officers of the command in their fight against enemies of the state.
“We are not distracted but remain resolute and focussed on our anti-smuggling operations in the state.
“I commend the courage and gallantry of all officers in Ogun 1 Command in the face of sustained intimidation and unwarranted attacks by desperate dare-devil smugglers in the state. I urge you to continue to maintain this high level of professionalism in carrying out your statutory duties,” Kolo stated.
