The Idiroko command of the Nigeria Customs Service has condemned media reports alleging that the command is conniving with smugglers to illegally bring in vehicles into the country through the land borders between Nigerian and Benin Republic.
The Customs Area Controller of Ogun State Command , Comptroller Haruna Mahmud told Shipping Position Daily exclusively last week ,that the Idiroko border is not the only route that leads to Benin Republic, even as he urged the general public, and maritime stakeholders to shun such allegations.
The comptroller described the media report (not Shipping Position Daily) as cheap blackmail, pointing out there is no way vehicles can pass through the Idiroko border on a daily basis.
"Ogun state command is an enforcement area and it is our responsibility to intercept smuggled products here, we have tried our best to sensitize smugglers here against smuggling of tokunboh vehicles and even new cars", he assured.
He however said that the command has nothing against the clearing agents who gave the false story to the press, but also warmed importers to make genuine declarations about their consignment at the borders.
Haruna said that the command is saddled with the responsibility of collecting revenue for the government and to also serve as an enforcement arm of the service; pointing out that it is the duty of the command to encourage importers and freight agents to do their jobs diligently.
"There is no how 300 vehicles can pass Idiroko a day, but if people want to use it as a cheap blackmail then they are free", he stated.
As part of efforts to checkmate smuggling activities within its jurisdiction for security purpose, the customs top brass revealed that officers of the command spend most time in the bush to curb smuggling activities which in turn has yielded result.
He also disclosed that with the new strategy, quite a number of arrests are being made on a daily basis.
Haruna affirmed that importers of vehicles have complained overtime on the attitude of clearing agents operating at the Idiroko axis, adding that many of the freight agents are not genuine licensed customs agents.
He said the Idiroko command of customs was established by the government to checkmate smuggling activities on land borders and his officers carry out patrol on daily basis to curb the menace noting that the command is just a kilometre to the border.
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