The Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service in a major onslaught against the reign of smuggling on the Western Waterways and Creeks has made a seizure of One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.
Addressing journalists last Friday, the Area Controller of the command, Compt. PK Bamisaiye described the seizure has most economically significant to the command at this period of scarcity of petroleum products especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the country.
According to the controller, “at about 2330hrs on Wednesday 8th May, 2024, while on joint patrol by Teams in the Command credible intelligence was received of the movement of Two (2) Boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in Sacks. Upon receipt of the information the Team moved into Isalu Creeks Badagry Waterway.
“On sighting the approach of our Officers the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek, the loaded Boats were then towed to our Station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters Ibafon Apapa, Lagos.”
Compt. Bamisaiye stated that on careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only.
He stressed that the action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service through Western Marine Command is responsible for enforcing.
The Controller gave the assurance that the Command under his leadership leadership is poised more than ever to rid the Western Waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria.