Again: Seme Customs fills warehouse with seizure of foreign rice
…Arrests 7 suspects
By Silas Onuoha:
Comptroller Uba:
Only few weeks after Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service showcased seizures of 11 trailers of rice, it warehouse is filled up again with seizures of rice, vegetable oil, sugar, secondhand clothings and many other prohibited items .
Seized items
The Command also arrested seven suspects in connection with smuggling of banned items at Seme border.
When contacted, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, known as experienced enforcement officer of the Service, said information patrol is the major strategy used by his team in tackling smuggling at Seme border area.
According to him, “We are alert 24 hours. We have informants strategically positioned within the border
“Also, our Enforcement Unit, headed by the Deputy Comptroller of Enforcement, DC Adhaunse, is working assiduously to curb illicit trade at Sme border”.
The CAC frowned at activities of illicit traders at the border, saying his team will not hesitate to seize banned items being brought into the country illegally.
He emphasized, “We are implementing government’s fiscal policies on trade and will seize prohibited items smuggled into the country through the back door. Nigerians who want to do business should engage in legitimate trade that will enhance economic growth, not smuggling”.
“People should realise that Customs is empowered by CEMA to patrol freely on land borders.”
Responding to question on the economic benefits of Joint Border Post (JBP), at Seme, he said, “The JBP is very effective in harmonisation of processes at the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
“The JBP allows one entry, one exit and one control. The economic benefits include trade facilitation, integration, as well as information sharing among security agencies of Nigeria and Benin Republic”.
