The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has lamented that Nigerians, especially host communities are shielding smugglers, thereby constraining customs in its activities.
At a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, Controller of the unit; Compt. Madugu Sanni Jubril admitted that customs does not have enough officers to police the Seme border, even as he called on the public to furnish the unit with information on activities of smugglers.
Madugu who took over the Unit on November 6th 2015, said that shortly after his arrival and consequent on measures he had instituted, the unit has recorded seizures of assorted prohibited goods valued at over N50, 000, 000.00.
According to him, since the customs began its campaign; 'Operation Hawk Descend' on July 7th 2015 against importation of poultry products, there has been an increase in the number of women crossing the Cotonou borders and smuggling poultry products in bits and pieces.
He however assured that the unit is strategizing on how to fully block the supply chains of the smugglers with a view to ensuring degradation of their antics.
"They don't sleep, they start operating by 12midnight and they finish sneaking into the country before 5am"
"We cannot be in the bushes 24hours, they know the bush parts, most of them were born along that terrain, when they see our Hilux coming they will hide, after two days they come out and continue"
"The only problem we are having is that some Nigerians are not giving us information, customs officers cannot operate without intelligence and information, you see them in your communities, all you have to do is share information with us and we are ready to strike, our telephones are open" he assured.
He also assured that under his watch, the presence of the customs will be felt more on the roads, along the creeks and borders.
He also said that Customs have designed an all-inclusive methodology involving its host communities. He also said that the service is improving its Customs Community Relationship (CCR) and collaboration with critical stakeholders.
A breakdown of the seized items by the unit revealed 239 bales of second hand clothing valued at N10,038,000.00, 1, 120 cartons of 950MW generators valued at N13,440,000.00, 1,822 bags of rice valued at N11,843,000.00.
Others are: 336 jerricans of thirty six cartons of vegetable oil valued at N2,421,900.00, 1,138 cartons of frozen poultry products valued at N6,828,000.00 and 42 parcels of Indian hemp valued at N2,016,000.00.
The Comptroller assured that the 42 parcels of Indian hemp would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
"The unit under my watch is deeply committed to eradicating smuggling along the nooks and crannies of area under our watch, we are committed to intelligence led customs operations and this entails partnership with patriotic Nigerians" he said.
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