Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that four officers serving in the unit lost their lives in the course of anti-smuggling activities last year.
Briefing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday at his first media briefing for the year, Deputy Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu who condemned the murderous acts of killing customs officers by smugglers and their sympathizers also said the long arms of the law will not spare perpetrators of such killings and that the unit will not be deterred in the performance of it’s duties to Nigeria .
He informed that a total of 23 suspected smugglers were arrested out of which five were given administrative bail while 18 are in the unit’s custody
Ejibunu while speaking on the unit’s anti-smuggling and revenue recovery activities said the command continued with it’s vigorous anti-smuggling exploits in January 2022 with seizures worth N4,590,312,335(duty paid value) and recovered N192,010,155.73 as revenue within 5 weeks
He said “while many travelled to enjoy the yuletide season, our operatives were out there in the field to prevent illicit items from being smuggled into the country. From 23rd December, 2021 till date, a lot more have been seized thereby setting the stage for today’s Press Briefing.
“Despite the ups and downs, the Unit waxed on positively in the fight against smuggling as witnessed by you all. It is only regrettable that we lost 4 gallant officers in the line of duty that same year.
“If there is anything the Unit will not condone, it is to lose any of our officers to smugglers this year. New approach and tactics strictly to our chest will be deployed this time around. Smugglers are by this warned to stay away from smuggling.
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“Our zeal to perform even better this year is predicated on the untiring support we get from the CGC – Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) – and his Management by way of welfare, capacity building, insurance scheme and provision of logistics.
“We are equally well equipped with relevant Sections of Customs and Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004 as amended to perform our legitimate duties without fear or favour.
“Some of such provisions are; Section 158 which gives us power to patrol freely; Section 11 – power to arrest and prosecute anyone seen to obstruct officers from performing their duties; Section 46 – Power to seize; Section 147 – Power to enter any premises without search warrant and many more”
The Controller called on members of the public to always support the NCS with credible intelligence that would lead to arrest of smugglers and prevention of prohibited goods from entering the country.
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