The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command, On Wednesday disclosed that it intercepted goods worth N2,839,507,352.66 between September and November this year and also generated N1,948,408,519.66 during the period.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Command, Mohammed Garuba, made the disclosure while briefing the media on the operations of the command at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post in Seme.
Garuba listed some of the seized items and their value as including; 21 vehicles, worth N134,410,536; 16,729 bags (27 trailers) of foreign rice worth N302,477,049, frozen poultry products worth N728,654, vegetable oil worth N400,440 ; and used tyres worth N859,345
Others are, petroleum products worth 134,410,536, Tramadol worth N11,090,832, sugar worth N7,394,52140, used textiles worth N774,270,57, coconut worth N2,313,360 among others.
According to him, seven suspects were arrested in connection with the recent seizures.
He expatiated: “Some were convicted, bailed and others are currently being detained in connection with the seizures and are undergoing interrogation for possible prosecution.
“Beyond the above statistics, it is obvious that the seizures represent protection of the economy and security of our people. Let me state clearly that it is simply not enough to inform you about the revenue and seizures with the Duty Payable Value; what is of paramount importance is to boost our economic growth and provide employment for our teeming youths.
“Take for instance, the government policy on rice; the rationale behind the policy is geared towards self-sufficiency in terms of food production that would meet the demand of the citizenry. Incentives have been created for rice farmers, individuals and state governments have committed so much in terms of finance in order for this goal of self-sufficiency to be actualised.
“We as a Command cannot afford to be complacent. The dangers inherent in this illegality are too numerous to mention, hence our resolve to fight them relentlessly”, the Customs Area Controller added.
Garuba restated the command’s determination to intensify its anti-smuggling operations in line with its mandate and ensure that smugglers are arrested and prosecuted for their illegal activities whenever they are caught.
It would be recalled that in furtherance of its efforts to curb smuggling in the country, the Federal Government had in January 2017 banned importation of vehicles through the land border.
A year earlier, precisely in March 2016, it had banned the importation of rice through land view to encouraging local production of the commodity.
