The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has processed 184 Export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96MT and an FOB of N13.057 billion. The total amount collected for NESS was N65.337 million and N24.407 million as Export Surcharge for previously imported goods.
The command also generated a total sum of N1,160,988,897.30, seized N365,888,696 contrabands and arrested 13 suspects in connection with the seizures in the last two months.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, the Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, said that the command collected N643,038,611.16 in January and N517,950,286.14 in February.
He noted that the command was given a target of N7.875billion to collect in 2024 which represents an increase of over 400% to the 2023 target.
Speaking further on the command’s anti-smuggling activities, Comptroller Bomodi stated that between January and February, the command successfully made168 interventions which resulted in the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg rice, equivalent of three trailer load of foreign parboiled rice, 81,930 litres PMS, equivalent of three tankers, nine vehicles, 1425 general merchandise, 265 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and other narcotics, 149 packets of codeine and two locally manufactured guns.
The combined Duty Paid Value of the seizures was N365,888,696.
On the 13 suspects arrested in connection with the seizures, the controller explained that six of them were granted administrative bails, three were handed over to NDLEA for further agency action, one was handed over to the Nigeria Police while three were still in the Command’s custody.
He highlighted the importance of the Joint Security Meetings held regularly at the Joint Border Post.
Bomodi maintained that the meetings provide valuable intelligence and opportunities to cross-fertilize ideas about Border management.
“We note that collaboration holds the key to success in border management, that’s why we’ve insisted on information sharing among sister agencies,” he said.
The controller hinted that in line with the directive to ensure that grains are not exported illegally, the command made a seizure of a truck load of beans, totaling, 400 bags with a DPV of N61,450,000 stockpiled in a Government warehouse for safe keeping and eventual sale to the public.
He added that the continuous surveillance of the border the operatives resulted in the interception of another 400 x 30 liters of PMS equivalent of 12,000 liters with a DPV of N,8,347,680 in the early hours of Saturday 2nd of March along the creeks.
