Customs Steps Up War Against Smuggling In S/East, S/South

A Deputy Comptroller of Customs and Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ , of the Nigeria Customs Service;   Mr Victor Dimka  has said that efforts were being made to make the South-East and South-South areas of the country difficult for smugglers to operate in.
Dimka said this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit; Mrs Ifeoma Onuigbo and made available to newsmen in Owerri yesterday.

A Deputy Comptroller of Customs and Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ , of the Nigeria Customs Service;   Mr Victor Dimka  has said that efforts were being made to make the South-East and South-South areas of the country difficult for smugglers to operate in.
Dimka said this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit; Mrs Ifeoma Onuigbo and made available to newsmen in Owerri yesterday.
He was quoted as describing smuggling as a cankerworm that had ruined the nation’s economy which should be checked if not totally eradicated.
Dimka also said the South-East and South-South zones were major targets of smugglers because of the business nature of the area.
He warned those involved in smuggling to desist from it, saying that the law would always catch up with them.
The deputy comptroller commended his men whom he said had lived up to expectations considering the number of arrests and seizures made in the past few months.
He said that smuggling brought disrepute not only to the offenders but to members of their family, adding that his men engaged in 24 hours surveillance to ensure that the war on smuggling was won.
He said that his team also worked in collaboration with other sister agencies like NAFDAC, NDLEA, the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure success in their operations.
“Goods are intercepted at various locations of South-South and South-East. Smuggling of contraband goods and evasion of duty payment on dutiable imports amounted to a great loss in the nation’s revenue,’’ he said.
The zone recorded some major feat in the months of March and April by arresting 11 persons in connection with smuggling.
It also recorded 21 and 22 seizures of contraband goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N226.5 million and N220.4 million in the months of March and April, respectively.
Dimka attributed the success to the provisions of arms and ammunitions, patrol vans and logistics by the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters.