The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Command, generated N623,280, 442.68 in December, 2018.
The Command also made series of seizures, including 6,753 bags of 50kg foreign per boiled rice, 45 jerry cans of vegetable oil (25 litres each), 135 (50kg) bags of sugar, 71 (25 litres) PMS.
Others include 21 cartons of tinned tomatoes, two sacks of used shoes, 91 parcels hard drugs (Narcotics), which had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Addressing Maritime Journalists in his office on Tuesday, the Customs Area Controller of the Command , Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, disclosed that one of the suspects, Difo Kenneth Cornelius, who was transferred to the NDLEA, Seme, had been prosecuted and imprisoned for a period of two years, for unlawful possession of 7kgs of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp).
Uba further revealed that 22 fairly used vehicles with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N177, 314,091 and six means of conveyance were also seized.
They include: Toyota Coaster Van (2014 model), Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (2011), Mercedes Benz GLK350 (2010), Toyota Siena (2013), Toyota 4Runner (2014), and others
He stressed that the unwavering resolve of the officers and men of the command in various operations, which focused on maximising revenue collection, suppression of smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade, was proficiently enforced across the Lagos-Abdijan corridor in December 2018.
“Similarly, the intensified operation of the Enforcement Unit has drastically reduced smuggling activities to the barest minimum”, he said.
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The comptroller who rolled out the grand total of both seizures and revenue at N1,055,122,539.68 pointed out that the operations of the command would be further enhanced through cooperation, collaboration and regional integration by facilitating the free movement of persons and services, reduction of trade and logistics costs, increasing inter-regional trade, increase of government revenue by eliminating trade barriers, reduction in delays, operating costs and availability of baseline data for impact assessment.
“The command will further strengthen its anti- smuggling operations against trade border crimes through intelligence driven operations and continuous partnership with other relevant agencies for effective border management to stem the unlawful activities of daredevil criminals,” he opines.
He commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) and his management team for the continued support and encouragement, assuring him that this year’s revenue target would be met and surpassed.
The Seme Command boss promised members of both local and business communities that the command would increase dialogue, enlightenment and stakeholders’ engagements for seamless operations through the modern joint border posts.
