Customs in Kwara State seizes 54 drums of petrol worth N1.9million
*As officers lay ambush to nab 2 suspects
*Comptroller Mohammed Uba vows to dislodge fuel smugglers at borders
By Silas Onuoha :
The seized petrol :
The Coordinator of Joint Border Drill Operations, sector -3 zone, in charge of Kwara State, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, is mapping out strategies to completely dislodge fuel smugglers operating at the border areas.
Comptroller Uba, who is known for his outstanding skills in enforcement operations is doing this through constant seizures of smuggled fuel and arrest of those found culpable of such criminalities.
For instance, Comptroller Uba and his men intercepted 54 drums of smuggled petrol loaded on two trucks, yesterday.
They equally arrested two suspects in connection with the seized petrol.
Comptroller Uba, who frowned at activities of illicit traders at the border communities, especially fuel smugglers, warned that his men will not hesitate to seize prohibited items and thwart activities of smugglers in whatever guise they come with.
Giving more insight into the current seizure of 54 drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), he explained that the smuggled petrol was intercepted at Babanna border in Niger State.
According to him, the smuggled petrol is more than N1.9million in Duty Paid Value (DPV).
The words of Comptroller Uba :
“At about 112100A, credible intelligence indicated activities of smugglers along Kabe -Karenji road.
“A covert patrol was sent out, led by the team leaders to lay ambush. At about 120730A, the team intercepted two Mitsubishi canter trucks laden with drums of petrol.
“We discovered that the registration number of the first truck is XA 241 WEL; with Chassis number FE437E- 545226. The truck conveyed 26 drums of PMS. The registration number for the second truck is XC 166 SUL, with Chassis number XM99A-17FPVC117897. It conveyed 30 drums of PMS”.
He asserted, ” On sighting our operatives, the driver ran into the bush. The former vehicle was faulty and all efforts made to bring it down to Customs Base, at Babanna proved abortive due to the bad terrain and mechanical faults.
“The vehicle was handed over to Marami Police Outpost for safe keeping, (about 5km to Babanna), pending when a patrol team with mechanics will recover it.
“A hand over note was signed to that effect. But two of the drums were damaged and leaked in the process. So, the total number of seized petrol drums were 54 and two empty drums”.
Recall that only two days ago, Comptroller Uba displayed mind-boggling seizures of contraband worth over N1.1 billion in DPV, recorded by his team in only two months, May to June 11, 2020.
The items seized include:
17,216 bags of rice; 294 kegs of vegetable oil; 944 drums of AGO; 2,321 Jerrycans of Petrol; 350 bundles of textile materials; 28 bags of foreign fertilizer; 66 cartons of Beer; 50 units of vehicles; 75 motorcycles; 15 sacks of used shoes and 360 tubers of yam.
The team also arrested 64 suspects in connection with the massive seizures.
