From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Area Custom Controller of Nigeria Custom Service(NCS) has impounded smuggled items worth ₦126, 278, 959.60k in the state within two months.
Comptroller of Customs in the state,Iheanacho Ernest Ejike who disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters of the Customs,Birnin Kebbi, also disclosed that his command generated revenue worth N7, 215, 500 within the months under review.
According to him, ” as the Customs Area Controller saddled with the responsibility of steering the affairs of Kebbi Area Command by Our able Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, myself and my team have dedicated our operations to making sure that smuggling activities are reduced to the barest minimum in the State, and to enhance revenue generation for the federal government.
“Barely two months since I took over, the Command has intensified the fight against smuggling to curb its menace by engaging in intense patrols throughout the nooks and crannies of Kebbi State. We make use of Intelligence to enhance our operations, and we also engage in sensitizing the host communities as to the dangers of smuggling.
“Of course, smuggling is injurious to the economy as well as wellbeing of the citizens, and also, smuggling portends grave danger to the security of the nation.
“Our operations so far have yielded positive outcome leading to several seizures of items within the period under review which includes; 212 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50Kg each and 28 bags of 25Kg each, 200 bales of used secondhand clothing (Jumbo size) and 50 bales of normal size,10,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 39 lumps of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa),78 rolls of Diclofenac Sodium.
“We also seized 300 wraps of diazepam tablets 5mg each, 57 packs of Sex enhancement drug (Black Diamond),150 Expired Powdered Milk, 50 pieces of used tyres and 20 pieces of rims, 20 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 20 bags of foreign sugar and 10 jerrycans of vegetable oils.
“The combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items is ₦126, 278, 959.60K). The PMS value is not included in the DPV because is given at our revenue generation section as receipts from auction sales”.
He added that the revenue generation in Kebbi Command was stalled in recent times due to the border closure between Nigeria, Benin republic and Niger Republic.
” Just recently, federal government has authorized the re-opening of Kamba border as the only import/export outlet for the state now. Even with this challenge, the Command manages to generate the sum of ₦7, 215, 500 in the two months under review, which is 125% increase as compared to the two previous months. The N10,025) litres of seized PMS which is valued at two million, and five thousand naira (₦2, 005, 000) is expected to also increase the revenue when auctioned to the public”.
Ejike who attributed his command’s achievements to resilience and courageous efforts their Operations teams, Intelligence Unit, Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) and collaboration with sister agencies, said, the Indian hemp would be hand over to the NAFDAC state Coordinator.