The Area Controller in charge of Nigeria Customs Service Kebbi Area Command; Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, has revealed how his command succeeded in intercepting smuggled items with a Duty Paid Value of N91, 518, 928.
Comptroller Oramalugo made this known to journalists on Wednesday, during his first media chat, two weeks after he resumed duty as the Customs Area Controller of Kebbi Area Command.
According to him, the successes were recorded following his directive to his officers and men to intensify vigilance across the nooks and crannies of the state and ensure a total wipeout of illegal activities in the area.
“I have directed my men to launch a massive onslaught across the vast bushes and all the waterways within Kebbi State immediately after I took over, our undaunted effort has started yielding positive results in anti-smuggling activities,” Oramalugo said.
He explained that the seized items were; 8,975 litres of petroleum, 189 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 71 bags of imported sugar, 42 bales of second-hand clothing, and 36 sacks of used shoes.
Other items were; 74 cartons of bleaching cream, 110 Solar Batteries
105 Cartons of medicine, 7 used vehicles as means of conveyance, and 1 tanker truck suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria.
The comptroller who expressed dismay over non-compliance to the Federal Government’s directive against smuggling of items into the country said that the seized PMS will be auctioned immediately after the briefing.
“It is disheartening that despite the humongous amount paid by the government to make PMS available to citizens at a reasonable price, some unscrupulous citizens choose to divert the product to our neighboring countries for their selfish financial benefits.” He said.
He commended the efforts and prompt intervention of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hamid Ibraheem Ali (Rtd), and the entire management team for their usual support to the command through the provision of equipment and logistics to carry out their duties as enshrined in Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LFN, 2004.
Africa Security Investigation News 