The Maritime Command of Nigeria Police Force says touts are behind most of the common crimes committed at the nation’s seaports.
Spokesman of the Police Maritime Command, Sadik Tunde, told SHIPS & PORTS DAILY that common crimes at the ports include stowaways, under-declaration of cargo, forgery, falsification of documents, stealing, burglary, arson, breaking and entering.
He said that the common crimes are mostly committed by touts who parade themselves as clearing agents.
He recounted the case of a 34-year-old alleged ”fake” clearing agent, Onyebuchi Kingsley, who was arraigned in
Apapa Magistrates’ Court recently for allegedly defrauding one Adewale Adebiyi to the tune of N470,000 under the pretence of clearing a Toyota Camry 2007 for the victim.
“Kingsley paraded himself as a clearing agent and collected the sum of N470, 000 from the complainant to clear one Toyota Camry 2007 but converted the money to personal use,” the police spokesman said.
He also narrated the case of a 52-year-old man, Echebiri Ikechukwu, who appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly impersonating a licensed Customs agent to steal vehicles worth N7.8 million.
“Ikechuckwu dubiously posed as a licensed clearing agent, obtained N2.5 million from Christian, under pretext to clear three Toyota cars,” he said.
Tunde warned the general public to stop patronizing touts who parade themselves as clearing agents.
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