Western Marine Command generates N48.8m in 2018
.Intercepts foreign rice, petrol at creeks
By Silas Onuoha
Rice and poultry products seized by the Command:
The Western Marine Command (WMC) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which is saddled with the statutory functions of suppressing smuggling and enforcement of other extant laws has realised N48.8million revenue from January to June 2018, economic year.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command, Mr. Tangwa E. made this known in a statement signed and made available to Business Update in Lagos.
According to him, “The Command within this period recorded unprecedented seizures with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N48. 8million, as against what was realised in 2017, within the same period, the total DPV of items seized was N27.3million, indicating an increase N21.5million DPV”.
smuggled PMS intercepted by the Command at creeks:
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Sarkin-Kebbi, M.M, attributed the success recorded in the half year of 2018 to new strategies implored by the Command, which are yielding desired goals.
The CAC also advised individuals still involved in illegal business of smuggling to desist or continue to face crackdown by his officers and men on waterways/creeks, who would not hesitate to seize their smuggled items and arrest them in accordance with the law.
The CAC of the Command:
The items seized within this period include foreign rice; frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, Premium Motor Spirits (PMS), commonly known as petrol; sugar and second hand clothing.
His words: “This laudable feat achieved so far was without daunting challenges in area of logistics. We would not sit and say we don’t have working tools .We will use what are on ground to do the needful”.
Comptroller Sarkin-Kebbi reaffirms his commitment to fight smuggling to a standstill with the creation of ‘Operation Total Blockade, CAC HQ Surveillance Team and CAC HQ Anti-smuggling squad’ operating on 24hours routine within the Command’s area of jurisdiction.
The CAC assured the media and the public asking questions on the Sea-Going Vessels at Marina-Lagos that plans are in place for the complete handing over to Customs. He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC, Ali Hameed and his management team for working tirelessly to ensure that these Sea-going Vessels are handed over to Customs and Commissioned for use, even as he thanked the media that stood by the Command and reported objectively on its activities.
He called on the public to assist the Command with useful information that would help in fighting economic saboteurs in its area of coverage.
