The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday announced that it raked in N2,634,190,645.53 as revenue from January to May this year during its operations, representing 272% higher than its actual collections in the corresponding period in 2023.
The Comptroller of Seme Area Command of the NCS, Timinadi Bomodi, gave these figures during his interaction with journalists at the command’s conference room at Seme Krake Joint Border Post of the Service.
The Comptroller explained that in the area of Exports, the Command facilitated 143, 468 metric tonnes of export produce, with FOB value of N35,199,971.097.7 (about $38,461,397.39) while the NESS value paid totalled N174,518,464.82 and that 406 SGDs were utilized from January-May 26, 2024 on exports.
Bomodi also spoke on anti-smuggling activities of the Enforcement unit of the Command, which led to 474 interceptions of various contraband items within the period under review.
He listed the items as including 12,448 Jerry cans x 30 liters of Petrol each which is equivalent to eight Tanker Loads; 6,467 Bags of 50kg rice, 15 used vehicles; 1, 251 parcels of cannabis sativa; 20 Live Parrots; 2 Honey badgers; 2 Pelican Birds; 404 Live tortoises; 3, 023 General Merchandise items; 149 Packages of Codeine; and 45 Pieces of used tyres.
The Comptroller said that all the items had a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N840, 003, 646.00.
According to him, a total of 18 suspects were arrested in connection with the contraband seizures out of whom 11 were granted administrative bails, 3 were handed over to NDLEA for further investigation, 1 was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 4 suspects still remained in the command’s custody.
On the stance of the command on smuggling and other illegal activities, Bomodi stressed: “We strongly frown at any act endangering the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of border stake-holders who go about their normal and legitimate businesses daily.
Stringent action shall be taken against any officer of the any agency found guilty of molestation of any females on this corridor”, he added.
He commended the other law enforcement agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy, for collaborating with the command to ensure the peace, safety and security of the borders.
