Few weeks after the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hammed Ali (rtd), led some top officials to commission two Customs boats, the Western Marine Command (WMC) of the service, has intercepted different contraband with duty paid value of N61, 611, 925 000.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Boyiliya Binga, while showcasing some of the seized goods to newsmen at the command on Thursday said that the goods were intercepted on the high sea at Badagry close to the border post.
Binga said that the items found with the smugglers included: bales of uniforms belonging to Mobile unit of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Navy.
According to him, other items intercepted were 433 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, bags of second hand clothes, bags of second hand shoes, bales of foreign fabrics, machetes, Tramadol and 3000 empty kegs.
Binga reiterated that even with the partial closure of the land borders by the Federal Government, some citizens have remained adamant.
"Instead of taking advantage of the federal government policy on agriculture especially in the area of rice production for the nation to be self-sufficient, they refused to repent", he noted.
“The fight against smuggling activities in the command under my leadership has continued to gather momentum, thus leading to massive seizures despite continued warnings and advise to the smugglers.
“We have been making pleas to these smugglers to stop their evil trade and engage in meaningful businesses that will benefit them and the country, but they are determined to go ahead with their nefarious activities.
“To this end, the command embarked upon several strategies in curbing this menace, a 24-hour patrol of the water was intensified and combing of the creeks and beaches were re-invigorated,” Binga said.
He said that with the inauguration of the command’s sea-going vessels, the tempo of anti-smuggling operations had increased.
The Controller said that the first launch of the sea-going vessel, Customs Pride, with 10 officers on board, had led to remarkable exploits and seizures.
“We want to make it clear to these economic saboteurs and their accomplices that customs do not negotiate with smugglers as items found to be contraband will be seized and offenders prosecuted.
“Unfortunately, no arrest was made, but we are on the lookout for them and we will not relent in doing our work.” he said.
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