Contraband goods worth over N352 million have been seized by the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
At a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos, the Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller PN Ntadi, said over the past few weeks, his men have conducted a series of targeted operations along the maritime routes.
He said the items confisticated included 2,017 bags of rice, 481 loaves of Cannabis Sativa, 72 bundles of foreign textile, seven bags of sugar, four locally constructed fibre boats and five locally constructed wooden boats. He disclosed that all items have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N352.9 million.
Mr Ntadi added that the smugglers embark on such acts to evade duty payment, destabilise the local market and also pose health and social problems due to their trade in dangerous narcotic substances.
According to him, the seizures represented a significant blow to criminal networks involved in illicit trade and smuggling activities while also reaffirming his command’s commitment to protecting the borders and ensuring that lawful trade and commerce thrive within the Nigerian economy.
While explaining the reason for the cleaning up of the command’s headquarters, he said the place, over the years, has become a security threat to the officers and men, taken into consideration that all manners of people, including hoodlums have converted the nearby bridge as the place of business where all kinds of vices thrive, even as he was quick to express his resolve to uplift the Command’s physical structure within the short possible time.
He noted that with the level of security threats facing the nation, the time to safeguard the land borders and waterways is now.
“In the course of our ongoing efforts to safeguard our borders, protect our economy, and uphold the rule of law. It is no longer acceptable to treat security lapses with levity especially now that Nigeria is contending with multiple Security challenges.
“These operations have resulted in the interception of various shipments of illegal and smuggled goods, which threaten the economic stability and social well-being of our nation,” Mr Ntadi said.