…Arrests 18 Suspects in connection with 474 Prohibited Items Worth N840 Million
ZAINAB JUNAID
Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, said it facilitated One Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Eight (143, 468) Metric Tonnes of export produce, with Free On Board(FOB) value of Thirty-Five Billion, One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-One thousand, Ninety-seven Naira Seven Kobo (₦35,199, 971. 097.7) only which is equivalent to ($38, 461, 397.39) between January and May 28, 2024.
Customs Area Controller, Seme Krake Joint Border Post, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, disclosed this on Tuesday May 28, 2024 while briefing journalists on activities of the Command from January to May 2024.
He said the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme, NESS value paid is One Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Five Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Four Naira Eighty-Two Kobo (₦174, 518, 464.82) only. A total of Four Hundred and Six Single Goods Declaration (SGDs) were utilized from January to May 26 2024 for export alone.
Comptroller Bomodi explained that the briefing held was in compliance with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi that all Commands must give periodic reports of their activities to members of the public, and in the spirit of open governance, ‘we at Seme-Krake Joint Border Post are delighted to present the successes recorded thus far this year’.
On revenue, the Command’s Boss revealed that the Command generated the sum of Two Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Million, One Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Five Naira Fifty Three Kobo (N2, 634, 190, 645.53) only as revenue from January 2024 to date, an amount that Surpasses that of 2023 for the same period by 272%.
Continuing, the Command Boss also revealed that the Enforcement unit sustained it’s anti smuggling momentum in all nooks and crannies of the Command, by intercepting Four Hundred and Seventy-Four (474) various contraband items within the period under review.
He highlighted the intercepted prohibited items to include-PMS: 12,448 Jerrycans x 30 liters each which is equivalent to eight (8) Tanker Loads; Rice: 6,467 Bags of 50kg, which is equivalent to 10 Trailer Loads, Vehicles: 15 used vehicles,Cannabis: 1, 251parcels of cannabis sativa. “We noticed there has been a marked increase in the illegal importation of Cannabis from Ghana and different methods have been used by criminals in their effort to beat our officers all of which has been neutralized; Wild Animal: 20 Live Parrots, 2 Honey badgers, 2 Pelican Birds, 404 Live tortoises.
Others seized items are –“General Merchandise: 3, 023 items, Codeine: 149 Packages, and 45 pieces of Used Tyers. All the seizures have a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Eight Hundred and Forty Million, Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Six Naira (₦840, 003, 646.00) only.
“A total of Eighteen (18) suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, Eleven (11) of them were granted administrative bails, three were handed over to NDLEA for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 4 suspects are still in our custody. Also recently arrested is a notorious smuggler whose reign of terror in this area has come to an end and will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” he revealed.
Comptroller Bomodi emphasized how the Command has taken gender related issues to the next level by setting up a complaint desk to address issues concerning molestation of females on Seme Krake corridor. “We strongly frown at any act endangering the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of border stake-holders who go about their normal and legitimate businesses daily. Stringent action shall be taken against any officer of any agency found guilty of molestation of any females on this corridor,” Comptroller Bomodi Charged.
He also extended warmth appreciation to sister agencies for their cooperation in ensuring the peace, safety and security of our borders, “Special mention will be made of the effort of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in this battle. Their unwavering support is crucial and we applaud their patriotic effort”.
