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| Offloading of the seized bags of rice at the WMC base in Lagos |
The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, on May 14,
intercepted a total of 575 bags of smuggled rice with a Duty Payable Value of
N4, 447, 625, and valued N2, 616,250.
intercepted a total of 575 bags of smuggled rice with a Duty Payable Value of
N4, 447, 625, and valued N2, 616,250.
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| Comptroller Umar Yusuf briefing newsmen on the seizures made |
Briefing newsmen on Monday at the command base in Ibafon, Apapa
Lagos, Comptroller Umar Yusuf said operatives of the command with support from the Nigerian Navy went after the
smugglers around a creek at Itonhu jetty in Badagry.
He said that the smugglers however escaped on sighting the customs
operatives.
operatives.
The Comptroller said the operatives had to seize what was left
after the smugglers got involved in an accident that caused a portion of the
consignment to drown in the river.
“On sighting the patrol officers, the smugglers in one of the boats
in the process of escaping arrest, ran into a creek at Itonhu jetty where they
hit a hard surface.
in the process of escaping arrest, ran into a creek at Itonhu jetty where they
hit a hard surface.
“The impact broke the boat and high tidal waves caused it to sink
and a large quantity of the bags of rice were drowned in the water.
and a large quantity of the bags of rice were drowned in the water.
“We were however able to salvage the remaining bags of rice totaling
575, with a DPV of N4, 447,625.00 valued at N2, 616,250.00 and brought them to
the base, though no suspects were arrested,” Yusuf said.
575, with a DPV of N4, 447,625.00 valued at N2, 616,250.00 and brought them to
the base, though no suspects were arrested,” Yusuf said.
The Comptroller used the opportunity to once again send warning
notes to those who insist on smuggling as a means of livelihood.
notes to those who insist on smuggling as a means of livelihood.
He said the customs command would “continue to fight smuggling
activities as long as the smugglers refused to turn away from their nefarious
activities.”
activities as long as the smugglers refused to turn away from their nefarious
activities.”
Yusuf disclosed that the command had so far in the course of the
year, recorded seizures valued N263, 094,300, with a duty payable value of N269,
632,075.
year, recorded seizures valued N263, 094,300, with a duty payable value of N269,
632,075.
Onepageafrica reports that the command’s anti-smuggling efforts
recently earned it a commendation letter from the Comptroller General of
Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.).
recently earned it a commendation letter from the Comptroller General of
Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.).
