Headquarters compliance team Ogun state axis, re-jigs operational capacity as they impounded two thousand, four hundred and thirty eight (2,438) smuggled frozen poultry products valued at thirteen million, one hundred and sixty five thousand, two hundred naira (n13,165,200.00) only in a single operation.
Despite several entreaties to smugglers for a rethink on their illicit activities, they are still adamant as their continued to engage in excesses in their bid to circumvent the trade policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is disheartening that people don’t bother to weigh the consequences of their actions before embarking on it. These revelations came from the leader of the Nigeria Customs Headquarters compliance team Ogun State axis, Assistant Comptroller Shittu Abdulmaruf recently, while commenting on the seizure of large quantity of smuggled frozen poultry products recently and the circumstances that surrounded it.
The team leader in a brief chat with media operatives, disclosed that one of his patrol teams intercepted a long trailer with registration number AGL 53 XF suspected to be carrying frozen poultry products along the busy Ijebu-Ode Sagamu Expressway. AC Abdulmaruf stated further that his operatives out of curiosity, insisted on conducting physical examination on the truck; this examination revealed that the truck had two thousand, four hundred and thirty eight (2,438) cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products, concealed with twenty two (22) pallets of Maltina drinks. He gave the value of the frozen poultry products alone as thirteen million, one hundred and sixty five thousand, two hundred naira (N13,165,200.00) only.
Similarly, the team leader also confirmed that his team in less than twenty hours thereafter intercepted an eight (8) tyre truck laden with imported shoes and canvas along the tollgate end of Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway. The truck according to the team leader has been deposited at the Customs house Ibadan where 100% examination will be conducted to ascertain the quantity and status of the consignment.
In his reaction to the modalities being adopted by his team in suppressing smuggling, the team leader reiterated the determination of his team to continually wreck havoc on smugglers. He maintained that effort is being made to strengthen and improve on their operational strategies in line with the change ideology of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The team leader further assured that his team in collaboration with the other anti-smuggling units has the capacity and capability to degrade smugglers. “We are not unmindful of their desperation to smuggle, in terms of going the extra miles, using any available strategy. The good news is that we are always several steps ahead of them”.
“The task of policing the entire area under our coverage is a responsibility that we cannot afford to abdicate”. We are not oblivious of the expectation of the Nigeria Custom Service Management, in terms of optimal performance, hence our desire to make them proud.
“The Nigeria Custom Service has risen up to this challenge and will not rest on its oars until we suppress smuggling to barest minimum”.
The team leader solicited the support of Nigerians in this fight and promised that identity of informants would be jealously guided, so as not to endanger their lives.
He commended the Comptroller General of Customs Retired Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali and the NCS Management for their logistic support, which has given them the needed impetus to excel.
“We cannot afford to renege on this assignment, irrespective of circumstance”
