Keeping to his warning to the Smugglers who are the major economic saboteurs in the nation about his readiness to deal with them ruthlessly during this yuletide period, DC Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu has continued to address the issue since the beginning of the ember months. Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Lagos recently, the Customs Area Controller of the Unit, DC Ejibunu, reiterated on
the strategic applications and technics in concealment by these dare-devil smugglers. He confirmed that these methods would be thwarted at each time these smugglers apply them as his officers are equal to the task. DC Ejibunu stressed the challenges posed
by smuggling operations which involves employing ingenious concealment methods. He urged collective citizen support in providing timely and useful information crucial for combatting smuggling activities effectively. DC Ejibunu emphasized that these seizures exemplify the unit’s dedication to safeguarding the nation’s economic interests as he outlined the goods that were seized within November as; 5,459 bags of 50kg bags of foreign parboiled bags of rice (equivalent to 9 trailer loads); 18,100 litres of premium motor spirit; 376 bales of used clothes; 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products; 337 pieces of used compressors; 3 X 40 ft. containers found to contain; 3,838 pieces of used
tyres; 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo) and 396 cartons of frozen fish. According to him, the total duty paid value of the seized goods stood at N872,575,250, while a total of 11 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures. On revenue, he said the sum of N71,254,984.71 was generated thorough documentary checks, followed by the issuance of demand notices (DN) on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate Customs duty. He added that smuggling operations that employ dangerous concealment methods is one of the deceit methods of ferrying very dangerous goods across borders or checkpoints without being noticed. This is peculiar with many of the international borders. It could be noted that items like pineapple and some generally accepted products7 frozen poultry products and illicit drugs. He therefore frowns at this stubbornness of the smugglers and asked for collective action to checkmate it. “This calls for the collaborative efforts of all citizens to support the Service by providing useful and timely information that would aid the anti-smuggling drive. “Ingenious concealment is an activity that plays a significant role in smuggling operations. It allows smugglers to hide illicit goods from detection by concerned authorities. It is important to note that smuggling is illegal and a crime that has negative social, economic, and security implications. “It is our resolve to continuously work hard to improve detection methods with the aid of intelligence. The strategic deployment of officers with intelligence-driven in anti-smuggling operations led to the arrest of a Toyota Highlander with an ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Iju-Ojuore, Ogun State.
No comments:
Post a Comment