By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has
made 15 seizures which included 352 bags of foreign par boiled rice of 50kg each, and 1, 875 liters of petroleum of 25 liters each in 75 Jerry cans, with the duty paid value (DPV) of N11, 149,636.00.
The Customs Area Controller, Kwara Command, Comptroller Kehinde Ilesanmi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital, on Tuesday, said the amount generated within the period under review, “surpasses what was generated same period last year 2022 with N 307,517,623,49.”
Ilesanmi, who also disclosed that three suspects were arrested in connection with contraband goods during the period under review,
used the forum to parade and hand over two other suspects arrested by Customs operatives in connection with two stolen vehicles to policemen that came from the Lagos Police Command.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Headquarters of Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command for the handing over of suspected stolen vehicles which were intercepted by officers and men of the Command.
“This intervention is in furtherance of the synergy that had been in place between Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Police Force. Customs and Police have traditional responsibilities of coexisting and collaborating and whenever we see any infraction that seems to affect each other, we make arrest and hand over to the appropriate authority.
“It will be recalled that Kwara Command land border is still under lock and key for movement of vehicles and other commercial activities. On Wednesday, 14th June, 2023 at about 1705hrs, which is 5:05pm, the Command intercepted one 2010 model Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep with Chassis Number JIEBXFJOAKOO7069 and Reg. No. EPE-911- HH at Chikanda Border post in Baruten local government area of e state.
“During the course of investigation, it was discovered that the registration number of the said vehicle belonged to a Toyota Hiace Bus. This is what heightened the curiosity of our officers and the vehicle was detained.
“In what looked like a drama, on Sunday the 16th of July, 2023 exactly 30 days after, at about 1430hrs which is 2:30pm our officers’ yet again intercepted one used Toyota Hiace Bus with Chassis Number TRH200155105 in Chikanda heading towards Benin Republic. Surprisingly, the same registration number EPE-911- HH which the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep earlier intercepted had was displayed as the registration number.
“After preliminary investigation by our enforcement and legal unit, it was established that the two vehicles were stolen. In the spirit of inter agency collaboration, the approval of CGC was sought and received to hand over the two vehicles to Nigerian Police Force for continuation of investigation.
“In order to carry out directives of the CGC and for all our friends in the media to be part of history, we decided to invite the Commissioner of Police Lagos State where the offence was committed for the handing over and taking over of the vehicles,” Ilesanmi explained.
He warned smugglers to steer clear of Kwara, adding that their officers have upped their aggressive patrols to deny smugglers freedom of action, while lauding the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for giving the Kwara Command additional four patrol vehicles that would assist the Command to achieve great results.
He restated that the ban through the land borders on importation of foreign rice, used vehicles, vegetable oil, secondhand clothing, used tyres, and other dangerous drugs such as marijuana, tramadol “is still in place, saying his Command is committed to enforcing this without compromise.”