By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Smuggling activities in Nigeria has really affected the economy in several ways. It hinders the local industry, discourages legal imports and reduces the volume of revenues collected from duties and levies by the states.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Command is taking proactive measures to curb smuggling activities in the area by deploying competent officers across the command.
The current intelligence driven operation of the command is not only in line with the operational ethics of the service, but also in line with international best practices. It is therefore worthy of note that confrontation with the smugglers which hitherto used to be between officers and smugglers is a thing of the past.
Since the assumption of office in January 2023, Comptroller Sambo Kaliel Dangaladima, took decisive measures by deploying competent officers at the border of Maigatari, Gumel, Babura and Kano town and others.
The move has continued to yielded tremendous success as seizures of contrabands are being recorded on a weekly basis while the smugglers are now counting their losses.
There are numerous seizures such as imported parboiled rice, cartons of Spaghetti, second hand clothes etc seized from daredevil smugglers despite their antics to gain passage.
The Operatives of Kano/Jigawa area Command while on credible intelligence intercepted 1,395 bags of parboiled rice, 47 motor vehicles 928 cartons of Spaghetti/macaroni/cous-cous
284 second hand clothes
1,135 kegs of vegetable oil amongst others
The command say it’s generated over N15 billion revenue in the period under review,
In his maiden address to the officers when he assumed duty as the CAC, Dangalima, disclosed that the command is poised to conduct its assigned responsibilities with discipline at all levels and also ensure border security and seamless facilitation of legitimate trade, in tandem with the executive order on the ease of doing business.
The Customs Area Controller assured that he will serve assiduously while increasing cooperation, collaboration, coordination and harmonious working relationships with all other sister security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
The command stated that its operational dynamics had in recent times become a nightmare to smugglers who are always devising new strategies to beat the operatives of the command.
Comptroller Sambo Kaliel Dangaladima said that he would bring his wealth of experience to bear in ensuring harmonious relationship between the border communities and officers of his command.
He disclosed that the command will continue to operate using the best strategies to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.
Dangaladima emphasized that the Command is not relenting in its revenue generation and anti smuggling drive.
