The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo-Osun Area Command, on Thursday said it has arrested no fewer than four persons in connection with various smuggling activities in both Oyo and Osun states in the month of January.
Newly resumed Customs Area Comptroller in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Comptroller Christopher Odibu, who made this disclosure while briefing journalists on the activities of the command, also declared that one suspect whose case was still in court for fraudulently parading himself as a custom officer has been arrested.
Odibu while speaking on the revenue drive of the command in the year 2017, informed that the command generated the sum of seventeen billon, six hundred and three million, three hundred and fifty nine thousand, seventy three naira, four kobo (N 17, 603, 359, 073.4k) in 2017, saying that the figure represents about 85.3% of the total target of the command in 2017.
The new CAC while speaking further said that the command in 2017 made a total seizure of one and and fifteen with the duty paid value of two hundred and fifteen million, five hundred and eighty eight thousand, five hundred and twenty eight naira, sixty three kobo (N215,588,528.63k with a promise that the command under his watch was determined to work harder to surpass the previous yeas in the areas of revenue generation and compliance.
Odibu while speaking on the efforts of his men in combating smuggling since his assumption on 17th January this year, also disclosed that his men since assumption of office have seized no fewer than 375 bags of rice, 271 Bales of second hand clothes, 60 kegs of vegetable oil, 2 trucks, 43 sacks of used shoes, 6 Tokunbo cars and 600 bags of fertilizer.
He said ,”Looking back on the revenue generation last year 2017, the command generated the total of seventeen billon, six hundred and three million, three hundred and fifty nine thousand, seventy three naira, four kobo (N 17, 603, 359, 073.4k) which represents 85.3% of the total target, meanwhile the command made a total of one and and fifteen with the duty paid value of two hundred and fifteen million, five hundred and eighty eight thousand, five hundred and twenty eight naira, sixty three kobo (N215,588,528.63k. This year, the command is working harder to surpass the previous year revenue generated.
“During the period under review, the command was able to record the followings seizures:
“One used Toyota Liteace (Tokunbo car), One used white color Toyota Dyna (Tokunbo) carrying 40 bags of smuggled rice and 12 bales of second hand clothes.
“One used blue color Peugeot 406 Saloon car, one used gold color Toyota Corolla car, One used green color Mazda premacy car, One used white color ford bus carrying 80 bags of smuggled rice, One used J5 carrying 80 bags of rice, One used dark blue color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags of rice, One used man diesel carrying computer assesorories, 131 bales of second hand clothes and 40 sacks of used shoes, One used dark blue Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags of smuggled rice.
“One used ash color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 20 bags of smuggled rice. One used grey color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags of smuggled rice. One used blue color Volkswagen gold saloon carrying 20 bags of smuggled rice. One used white color Volkswagen golf saloon carrying 25 bags smuggled rice. One used blue color DAF Truck 12 tyres carrying 600 bags of fertilizer and 54 bales of second hand clothes. 35 bags of smuggled rice and 60 kegs of vegetable oil.
The total duty paid value of the seized items according to him was put at seventy seven million, seven hundred and fifty three thiusand, four hundred and ninety two naira, eight kobo (77, 753, 492.8k).
Odibu while commending the gallantry efforts of his men, solicited the support of all and sundry in the fight against the menace of smuggling.
He said “I must commend the dedication of my officers and cooperation of other units such as headquarters compliance team, federal operations unit and the customs intelligence unit in the actualization of these achievements as the command is poised at building on the successes recorded in the past years. The command under my watch will continue to deal decisively with the economic saboteurs and work for the security and wellbeing of the people of Nigeria. Meanwhile our doors will be open to all legitimate traders within our command.
“At this juncture, we solicit your support in our fight against smuggling by enlightening and educating the general public about the canker-worm it is”.
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