By Ige Adekunle
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, said it has seized 103 contraband goods with the total Duty Paid Value(DPV) N380,370,911 within three weeks operations.
The new Area Comptroller, Mr James Ojo, said this at a maiden news conference on Thursday in Abeokuta.
Ojo said that the items were intercepted at different locations within the command’s area of operation through intensive strategies and concerted efforts of its intelligence unit, DSS and other.
He said that the command had also made N14,628,661 revenue through baggage assessment and auction sales of petroleum products.
Ojo listed the items seized by the command to include 90 sacks and 1,309 parcels of cannabis sativa, 1,596 pieces of foreign used pneumatic tyres, 2,922 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg.
Others were 32 bales of used clothes, 1,603 cartoons of frozen poultry products and 22,600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, among others.
The Area Comptroller said that the seized items had adverse effects on the wellbeing of the Citizenry, especially the cannabis sativa, pneumatic tyres and foreign rice.
“The cannabis sativa has devastating effect on the lives of its consumers, especially the youths.
“In addition, the rise in the abuse is of great concern with Nigerian society and a threat to our national security,” he said.
Ojo said that most of the foreign-used pneumatic tyres were not deemed unsuitable for our highways because a significant number of them had exceeded their recommended lifespan from the manufacturing dates.
Some of the rice seized by Ogun 1 Command of NCS,on Thursday.
The area comptroller said that the persistent smuggling of rice would continue to hamper our economic growth and development as a nation.
He reaffirmed the dedication of the command to duty and commitment to ensuring safety and wellbeing of the people, adding that NCS remain resolute in carrying out its mandate in Ogun State with utmost patriotism.
Ojo applauded the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, and his management team for their support and creating enabling environment for personnel to work.
He also commended its gallant officers and critical stakeholders for helping the service to acachieved its goals. (NAN)
Ogun Customs seizes items worth N380.3m DPV in 3 weeks operations
