By; BAYO AKAMO,Ibadan
The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated N20,051 billion as well as arrested 63 suspects between January and April this year.
NCS Area Controller in charge of the area command, Mrs Hellen Ngozi dropped this hint while addressing a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan on the activities of the command in the last four months,
Mrs Ngozi stated that the 63 suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling of some prohibited items into the country during which the command intercepted 3,465 bags of rice, 13 kegs of vegetable oil, 44 gallons of vegetable oil, 20 units of used tyres, 310 drums of 100 liters of PMS, 180 kegs of PMS and 180 bales of second hand clothing materials and other items.
According to the Area Controller, the 63 suspects were arrested at various locations within the command area of coverage when men of the Oyo/Osun NCS command were carring out anti-smuggling activities with utmost professionalism, saying, “within the period under review, we have made 72 seizures and 63 detentions. We have carried out our enforcement and anti-smuggling activities with utmost professionalism, caution, and intelligence gathering”.
“We made an unusual seizure of 180 bales of second hand clothing from the train operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation with duty paid value of N13,252,311. Other seizures include 3,465 bags of 50kg parboiled rice with duty paid value of N82,636,185, 13 kegs of 25 litres of each of vegetable oil with duty paid value of N282,426, 44 gallons of 4 litres of each of vegetable oil with duty paid value of N278,805, 20 units of used tyres with duty paid value of N162,938”, she said.
Mrs Ngozi added, “the total paid value for these seizures is N96,612,665. For this phase of seizures, the total paid value is equivalent to N193,777,829. In summary, the cumulative duty paid value from January to April is N312,189,456.
The Oyo/Osun NCS Area Controller disclosed that the command also sealed a petrol station carrying out illegal activities, adding, “with smart intelligence gathering, we are able to identify a petrol filing station carrying out illegal activities within its premises. The petrol station has been sealed and arrested suspects were made to write statement and undertaking to desist from such illicit activities”.
She stressed further “during our anti-smuggling activities of March and April 2020, the command made seizures of 310 drums of 100 liters each and 180 kegs of 25 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at different points and axis of the command. They will be auctioned and the proceeds will be remitted accordingly. “
