The Seme area command of the Nigeria Customs Service said it recorded 221 various seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N180.1 million between January and April 2016.
According to a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Saleng Taupyen, a copy of which was sent to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY at the weekend, 17 suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizures.
He said the command also generated N3.3billion within the review period.
The statement quoted the controller of the command, Victor Dimka as saying that the command was able to record the feat despite the dwindling economic activities and challenge of high exchange rate on the importation of goods into the country.
“Seme Command has been able to generate N3, 265,335,939.89 from January – April,2016. It could be recalled that from Jan – April, 2016, Seme Command recorded 221 seizures with a total DPV value of N180,847,967.60 and a total number of 17 suspect which are at different level of investigation and prosecution.
“Despite the down turn of importation of goods that has affected the Command’s revenue generation negatively, the clear records of our activities in effective trade facilitation, drastic suppression of smuggling and securing the international border of any trans -border crimes must be seen to be in total compliance to our books of instructions that guides the discharge of our statutory responsibilities,” he said.
Dimka re-iterated his commitment to the strict implementation of government fiscal policies and the extant laws that governs operation of the Service at the international border.
He pointed out that the illegal importations of fairly used vehicles through the command had been curtailed even as he charged his management team to ensure that the momentum of total compliance to all extant laws is sustained by every unit.
The Comptroller stressed that the input of the enforcement unit of the Command with regards to suppression of smuggling has been unprecedented in recent times even as he urged the unit to continue to live up to expectation in combating smuggling activities especially of illegal importation of fairly used vehicles which according to him has contributed over 50% of the commands total revenue.
The customs boss stated that considering the effect of the economic meltdown, the command has adopted a holistic approach to ensure his officers and men work under a peaceful atmosphere devoid of rancour and crisis by having a regular monthly stakeholders meeting with host communities, the border security agencies, opinion leaders and the youths of the entire communities.
Dimka however warned officers to be careful and work strictly within the confines of the Service codes and legal notices, as any infractions observed will be traced to where it originated and the culprit made to face the full wrath of the law.
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