Customs Seizures Goods Worth Over 23 Million in Kebbi

By Abdullahi faruk, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria customs service, Kebbi Area Command have in March 29 intercepted smuggling goods that their duty paid value worth twenty three million, one hundred and forty one thousand, and eight hundred and three Naira (23,141,803) in different location of the state.

This was disclosed by the area Controller, Dr .Ben Oramalugo at a press briefing to newsmen on Tuesday at the command conference hall Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi.

The customs Area Controller, said that, in the last two months of his posting to the command he has able to recorded a tremendous success in the area of revenue, while stressed that in the month of March the command generate the sum of one hundred and forty four million, eight hundred and sixty two thousand, and three hundred and seventy two Naira (N144, 862,372).

He said ” we are hopeful of meeting, if not surpassing the command’s annual target of One billion, fifty eight million, seven hundred and two thousand four hundred and sixty six Naira (N 1, 058,702,466). Expressed that” we are now exploring ways on how to address a major challenge identified by our stakeholders of multiple taxation from our neighbouring countries before their goods arrive at Kamba the only border currently open under the command, he said”.

He added that, the seizured items include: 16, 375 liter of PMS, 210 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 34 bales of second hand clothes and than 109 cartons of confectionaries, among others. Stressed that we received credible intelligence of ongoing smuggling activities of premium motor Spirit (PMS) at AP filling station at Yauri in Yauri local government in the state, a team of officers was deployed to the scene and immediately seizure was made.

Equally, ” We are able evacuated three hundred and four (304) Kgs of PMS of 25 liters each, sealed up the filling station in the above mentioned local government along with (6) petrol tankers inside and investigation is ongoing. Later the smugglers mobilized themselves and came back with some thugs with a view to resist the evacuation but our men stood their ground until we received reinforcement from Nigerian Army who helped us in dispersing the criminal elements.

The Cammand Controller than send a strong warning to all smugglers and their enablers across the state to shunned from their nefarious acts. “We will not fold our arms and allow any filling station to be used as a conduit pipe for smuggling PMS out of the country. Our government pays heavily to subsidize the product for our citizens which makes it illegal and morally reprehensible for few individuals to divert it for their own aggrandizement, he lamented”.

He assured that the Nigerian Customs service, Kebbi area Command remain resolute in frustrating and illegal smuggling activities as we are morally and logistically equipped and have gallantry to scuttle all their activities. He appreciate all well- meaning citizens who help the command with useful information to nip smuggling in the state, we also urges for more vital information on smuggling activities.