Despite the fact that Nigeria is currently battling petroleum scarcity in most states of the federation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday said that its officers in February intercepted 36,575 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) in the Igbo-Iberu area of Ogun State. This is even as the Service also revealed that 11 trailer loads of smuggled parboiled rice were also seized within the period under review.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, the acting Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A in Ikeja, Hussein Ejibunu explained that the 11 trailer loads consists of 6,749 bags of smuggled parboiled rice at 50kg each.
According to Controller Ejibunu, “Today’s Press briefing is the second for the year 2022. As usual, it is intended to x-ray the Unit’s activities for the month of February 2022.
“Inspite of the lull in business activities, the deployment of the Unit’s strategies and officers’ determination to suffocate smugglers, a lot had been done within the period under review.
“For the purpose of today’s press briefing, the Unit is showcasing the under-listed seizures which were intercepted between the 3rd and 28th of February, 2022: “6,749 bags of smuggled parboiled rice at 50kg each equivalent to 11 trailers load.
“36,575 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS); 599 bales of secondhand clothing; 906 cartons of frozen poultry products; 2,001 pieces of used tyres; 175 pieces of used compressors; 180 cartons of foreign soap; 52 used fridges; 285 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products; 13 units of fairly used vehicles; 15 cartons and 23 bales of lace materials; 338 cartons of mosquito repellant; all with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N587,901,165.
“Revenue generated through recoveries of low value, transfer of value, wrong classification and public auction sales of PMS amounted to N79,067,560.75.
“Gentlemen of the Press, you will agree with me today that Southwest zone has become quite hot for smugglers to operate freely in recent time. We are, however, not singing a victory song yet because of what we still have up our sleeves.
“As I always say, no one claps with one hand. The fight against smuggling and smugglers needs the cooperation and collaboration of everyone. We need credible information to successfully combat smuggling considering the overwhelmingly negative consequences.
“Smuggling is a complete monster with a direct link to illicit drugs and drug abuse, armed robberies, kidnapping, the balance of trade deficit, unemployment, increased crime waves, high mortality rate as a result of fake drugs and youth restiveness.
“It is therefore our collective responsibility to say no to smuggling. My message to smugglers, as usual, is to eschew smuggling and embrace legitimate trade or business or be ready to damn the consequences.”
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… Despite scarcity, petroleum smuggling rises as customs seize 36 thousand litres Despite scarcity, petroleum smuggling rises as customs seize 36 thousand litres Despite scarcity, petroleum smuggling rises as customs seize 36 thousand litres Despite scarcity, petroleum smuggling rises as customs seize 36 thousand litres.
SOURCE: tribuneonlineng.com