The Western Marine Command (WMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) last Tuesday intercepted three boats laden with 2, 570 bags of rice and 135 cartons of poultry products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N29.5million.
Briefing newsmen in Apapa last Tuesday, Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Zakka Audu, said the seizure which occured in Badagry, Yekeme and Idiroko respectively followed a tip-off.
“The summary of our seizure in the last 24 hours is one that is making us so elated. In the last 24 hours, we have seizures of 2, 200 bags of rice around Badagry axis in a big boat, a smaller boat with 210 bags of rice, another boat with 160 bags and a seizure of about 135 cartons of poultry products.
“We heard the information and sources from the headquarters, we made sure that the seizure was made and I coordinated it myself,” Audu said.
He said no arrest was made but the boats used in conveying the commodity were seized. He said chasing smugglers on water was difficlut for his men.
The WMC boss appealed to the Customs high command to acquire sea going vessel for the Command to enable its officers combat smuggling activities on the waterways.
“The seizures we make now are only along the creeks and such boats cannot be used on the high sea,” he said.
He commended the efforts of the officers who trailed the smugglers to the point of arrest even as he assured that their dedication to duty will be rewarded.
He warned that smugglers who may want to take advantage of the yuletide season to bring in smuggled products only risk losing their goods stressing that Customs operatives do not go on holidays and officers will always be on the lookout round the clock.
The destruction of the poultry products was witnessed by officials of the State Security Service (SSS), NAFDAC and Police.
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