By Adedapo Adesanya
The Kano/Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated a sum of N5.5 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), expressing optimism that it will surpass the agency’s target for the year.
This was disclosed by the Area Comptroller of the command, Mr Suleiman Pai Umar yesterday while briefing journalists at the Club Road Headquarters of the Command in Kano.
He said that this was possible even as the command continues to clamp down on smuggling activities.
According to Mr Umar, the command seized smuggled items with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N270 million from January to date.
He said the items, which were illegally brought into the country, were seized by his men and officers at different locations within Kano and Jigawa axis.
According to him, the command was able to record such feat as a result of intelligence gathering from the Customs Intelligence Unit, (CIU) and Customs Police.
He added that the Customs also busted a notorious syndicate of exotic cars, who took advantage of porous borders in some northern part of the country to ferry in cars and vehicles illegally.
He further stated that the syndicate operated somewhere around the Hotoro axis of the state capital, adding that following intelligence tip-off, his operatives successfully raided one of their warehouses and arrested two of their exotic cars, both of which had a duty paid value of N83,569,989.
He said that the exotic cars were brought into the country with Chadian diplomatic plate numbers, adding that the seizure had been reported to the Abuja headquarters of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which had initiated a complaint with the Chadian Embassy in Nigeria.
He vowed to make sure the culprits face the full wrath of the law as an investigation was still ongoing on the case, adding that the command made an arrest of an agent in connection with the seizure of second-hand bales but now on bail.
Comptroller Umar also vowed that his men and officers would not relent in fishing out the perpetrators of such illegal activities bent on sabotaging the economy of the country.
In his word, “we shall continue to sharpen our intelligence and enforcement capabilities to fight smuggling and enforce compliance with extant laws and procedures to ensure success in the battle against economic saboteurs.
“The role of the Nigeria Customs Service in the sustenance of the nation’s economy is very crucial. Also, suppression of smuggling of prohibited/restricted items into the country is necessary in reducing insecurity and protecting our local industries.
“During our anti-smuggling activities from January till date, the command has made several seizures within its area of coverage.
“With smart intelligence gathering from CIU and Customs Police, we are able to seize a 1×40 ft container at APMT loaded with 290 bales of second-hand clothes otherwise known as (Okirika) with a Duty Paid Value of over N38 million.
“Similarly, we arrested two Exotic cars (Mercedes Benz C43 AMG 4MATIC 2017 Model and Mercedes Benz GLE 53AMG TURBO 2021 Model) both with Chadian embassy plate numbers with Duty paid value of over N83 million.
“Other contraband items seized include 1,300 (50kg) bags of foreign rice, 180 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 50 cartons of foreign couscous, 27 carton of foreign Spaghetti, 15 cartons of condensed milk, and 22 bales of second-hand clothes worth over N148 million DPV.”
Modupe Gbadeyanka