Seme Customs rakes in N2.7bn
.Seizes 2,000 cartons of expired biscuits
Arrests 6 suspects
By Silas Onuoha
The CAC handing over the seized hard drugs to NDLEA:
The Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is in the news again for massive seizures of prohibited items smuggled into the country through the border between Nigeria and Republic of Benin.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, disclosed this at a press conference yesterday.
He said, “We seized 1,582 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, concealed in Indomie truck, another notable arrest of 55 parcels of similar drugs concealed in a Sienna bus, making a total of 1,686 parcels, with street value of over N30million”.
“Our Command also arrested six suspected smugglers in connection with the seizures”.
His words, “The intensified operation of the Enforcement Unit has drastically reduced smuggling activities to the barest minimum. The seizures you are seeing here include 8,304 bags of foreign rice (equivalent to over 14 trailer trucks); with Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N88, 728,240; 31 jerrycans of vegetable oil worth N269,911; 35 bags of sugar with DPV of N444,785; petrol worth N212,100; 71 cartons of expired food seasoning worth N458,109 and 336 cartons of alcoholic drinks worth N4,776,525.
“Within the same period, the Command seized 175 yards of textile materials with DPV of over N2,242,287; 15 sacks of used clothes worth N677,486; 28 cartons of medicament worth N1,083,978; 410 sacks of School bags worth N13,227,113; 2,000 cartons of expired biscuits worth N7,742,700 and a truck loaded with 493 packs of Baby diapers worth N4,100,000”.
Comptroller Uba pointed out, “A total of 13 vehicles were seized. Notable among them are Toyota Highlander, Range Rover, Toyota Rav-4, Toyota Venza and others with DPV of over N46,129,880”.
The DC Enforcement and SC Isa Adamu at the press conference yesterday:
Speaking on the area of revenue generation, he said, “The Command generated over N2.6billion revenue from March to June 18, 2019. The grand total for revenue and seizures is over N2.7billion.”
He continued, “Also, as part of our community service, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC, directed that a total of 25,000 bags of rice equivalent to 42 trailer trucks, 650 bags of sugar, 150 cartons of Tin tomato, 150 bags of flour and 250 kegs of vegetable oil be given to Internally Displaced Persons in Yobe State”.
The Seme CAC emphasized, “We have a duty to protect our economy from influx of contraband. As such, we must continue to carry out our functions without any fear of intimidation from economic saboteurs.”
The CAC, his team, NDLEA official and news men at the conference yesterday:
