Oyo/Osun Command Of NCS Arrests 8 Smugglers, Generates N13.397 Billion In First Quarter Of 2019

… .Seizes 3,270 Bags Of Rice, 700 Kegs Vegetable Oil, Others

By Olusakin Babalola, Ibadan

The Oyo /Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)has stepped up its efforts at combatting smuggling with the arrest and prosecution of eight smugglers and the interception of various contraband items worth over N105. 7 million in the last four months in the Command.

Briefing news men in Ibadan on Tuesday it’s Area Controller , Mr Abdullahi Zulkifilu Arugungu also disclosed that the Federal High Court in Ibadan had sentenced one Mr Bayo Mafo to three years imprisonment for impersonating a customs Officer.

He disclosed that the accused was arrested in the zone and sentenced accordingly after his prosecution for impersonating a customs

Arugungu further revealed that a sum of N13. 397,441 364,71bn was realized as revenue from excise duties by the Command in the first quarter of this year as against N6,032,964,650,94 bn. generated within the same period in 2018 representing an increase of 101.4% revenue collected when compared to that of last year.

The Area Controller who had earlier conducted newsmen round contraband items recently seized, by the Command, gave it’s breakdown as follows; 3,270 (50kg) of imported parboiled rice with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N49,634,676.00, Seven hundred.( 700) 25 litres kegs of vegetable oil worth N6,828,344,44 as DPV

Other items are , Fifty (50kg) bags of Sugar with it’s DPV put at N800,977,00, Twenty (20) bales of second hand clothings with DPV of N2,047,920,00, Twenty nine (29) means if cinveyance including motorcyles with DPV put at N25,975,212,22 , as well used cars such as Toyota Corolla, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prado, and a Peugeot 606, with a total DPV of N20,441, 845,

He commended the dedication of officers and men of the Command , the cooperation of other units of the service as well as the synergy from other agencies such as the Army , Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), the DSS among others on the success recorded by the Command.

“However, the officers and men of the command will not relent in their efforts in fighting smuggling with a view to protecting our indigenous industries , reviving ailing ones and at long run, create wealth, and jobs for our teeming unemployed youths’, he assured.

He warned those who engaged in the nefarious act to desist from it and embrace legimate businesses as means of livelihood stating that smuggling has an adverse effect on the nation’s economy.