Customs FOU A’ seizes N767m, nabs 23 suspected smugglers in March

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone “A” in March seized smuggled items worth a total duty paid value of N767,633,458.50 and arrest 23 persons at various points in connection with smuggling activities.

Acting Comptroller of the unit, DC Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu who said this during a press briefing where he displayed the seizures and paraded the suspects, noted that the command collected N89,347,365.25 as revenue within the period.

Frowning at smugglers’ recalcitrant behaviour to always engaging in illegalities, the comptroller explained that the operatives of the unit would always be unrelenting in their 24-hour patrols to intercept any means of conveying smuggled items, by seizing them and arresting suspects involved in the illegality.

The anti-smuggling czar added that the fight against smuggling will always be reinvigorated to sustain the tempo of economic protection and prevention of dangerous goods from entering the country through any entry point in the South West.

He condemned the gruesome killing of Inspector of Customs A. Onwegbuzie by suspected smugglers in Ogun State while discharging his official duties and said the long arms of the law will catch up with such murderers who dumped the murdered officer’s body in a pit.

The unit has also declared an onslaught against illegal bunkering activities which is evident in the seizure of petroleum products by a designated team against it.

Smugglers, according to him will always face stiff confrontation as the unit will never be deterred by the attacks and the recent killing of one officer in the line of duty.

“The fight against smuggling is becoming more and more intense and fierce due to increased level of crime.  Smugglers are more determined than ever before to confront officers on patrol even unprovoked.

“This new wave of the daring attitude of smugglers has claimed the lives of many officers; the latest being the hacking to death with the machete of Inspector of Customs Onwegbuzie A. along Senator Road, Ilaro area of Ogun State after making a seizure on Wednesday 2nd March 2022.

“The officer was not only gruesomely murdered but his body was dumped in a deep pit.  Interestingly,  newspapers were not awash with the report of the incident.  Were it the other way round,  there would have been noise everywhere.

“Nevertheless, with the timely arrival of other patrol teams, three arrests were made in connection with the murder, 78 bags of smuggled parboiled rice at 50kg each and six motorcycles were equally seized.

“On Wednesday 9th March 2022, a patrol team uncovered several rice barns in a thick bush behind Dangote Cement Factory in Ogun State.

The discovery which has made at the night triggered gunshots from smugglers directed at officers. Officers never bulged and, in the morning, evacuated 845 bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Station.

“Another attack took place on Wednesday 16th March 2022, along Oyan-Oni Chain, Idere at Ibarapa area of Oyo State after making a seizure of 105 bags of foreign parboiled rice at 50kg each.  During that attack which was repelled, a fleeing smuggler dropped his locally made pump action rifle with four cartridges which the team brought to the station.

“In the same vein, a team that intercepted two Toyota Camry vehicles laden with 86 bags of smuggled parboiled rice at 50kg each along Owode/Idiroko Road of Ogun State was again attacked by smugglers.

“The team not only secured the seizure but also repelled the attackers during which one was shot in the leg and arrested alongside his Dane gun and one cutlass. 

“The suspect is currently receiving treatment, but under guard.  You can now see the number of attacks just for the month of  March 2022,  alone.

“The situation we have on our hands requires all hands to be on deck.  It, therefore, behoves all of us to fight this common and dangerous enemy called smuggling” the Acting Comptroller DC Ejibunu said.

He also called on members of the public to share credible information with the service that could forestall smuggling activities and lead to the arrest of more smugglers.

A breakdown of the seizures, according to the command spokesperson, Theophilus P. Duniya include 6,747 bags of foreign parboiled  rice  at  50kg  each  equivalent  to  eleven  (11) trailers load; 68,225  litres  of  Premium  Motor  Spirit  (PMS) equivalent  to  more  than  two (2)  tankers and 2,150  cartons of frozen  poultry  products.

Others are: 526 bales  of  second-hand  clothing; 447 parcels  (2,056kg)  of  Cannabis sativa  (Indian  hemp); 927 pieces  of  used  pneumatic  tyres; 781 pieces  of  used  compressors; 256 pieces  of  imported  vegetable  oil  at  5  litres  each; 825 cartons and  108 pieces  of  Tin  Tomatoes; 34 units of  used  motorcycles; 1,950  pairs  of  used  shoes; 662 cartons of wine; 20 cartons and  164  bottles  of  unregistered  drugs;13 fairly used  vehicles  smuggled  across  land  borders; 59 sacks of  used  bags and 17 sacks of  used  shoes.

“Five of the arrested suspects were granted administrative bail while 18 others are at various stages of investigation ahead of likely prosecution”, he said.