Nigeria Customs Services, NCS, Oyo Osun Area Command has intercepted and seized One Hundred and One(101) drums of 200 litres each, Six Hundred and Nine(609) Kegs of 25 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) totaling Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Five Litres(35, 425 litres) in attempts to smuggle them out of the country.
This disclosure was made by BA Jaiyeoba, Customs Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service at his inaugural press briefing
According to him, ” I wish to welcome you all to this occasion, which is my inaugural press briefing as Customs Area Controller in charge of Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Oyo/Osun Command has a mandate of revenue collection from various excise factories located within our Area of Responsibility (AoR) and suppression of smuggling. We assumed office on Thursday 17th February, 2022 and exactly three (3) weeks after, we have invited you here today to showcase some of our achievements.
” At this juncture, we wish to express our gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), who in his efforts to ensure the realization of our mandate in the area of suppression of smuggling, has made provisions for the needed equipment, especially operational vehicles, to Commands across the country, including Oyo/Osun Command..
“Leveraging on this, the reinvigorated anti-smuggling operation of the Command has led to the interception and seizure of One Hundred and One (101) drums of 200litres each and Six Hundred and Nine (609) kegs of 25litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) totaling Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Five litres (35,425 litres) in attempts to smuggle them out of the country, which is the highlight of this briefing today. It is difficult to imagine that despite the current fuel scarcity (PMS) in the country, some unpatriotic Nigerians attempted to smuggle these products out of the country.
“We shall not relent in our efforts to fight smuggling to standstill. We are daily improving on our intelligence gathering method and deploying our efforts, as well as available logistics in accordance with all extant laws as enshrined in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45, LFN 2004 as amended, to ensure the States of Oyo and Osun are uncomfortable for all economic saboteurs. We therefore use this opportunity to warn those with nefarious activities to stay clear of Oyo/Osun Command as there shall be no safe haven for them.
“REVENUE
As at the end of February 2022, the Command has collected the sum of Eight Billion, Sixty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira, Four Kobo (8,069,497,949.04) only.
“ANTI-SMUGGLING OPERATION
Between Thursday 17th February, 2022 and today Thursday 10th March, 2022, the Command has made series of interceptions namely Twenty-Six (26) seizures and One (1) detention, which include but not limited to, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Foreign Parboiled Rice, Used Tyres and Secondhand Clothing with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Thirty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand Naira only (34,851,000.00) only as listed in the table below:
In addition, one (1) suspect was arrested in connection with the seizures.
” Permit me to state that the achievements showcased here today was made possible through timely sharing of credible intelligence and effective collaboration/synergy between the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, CGC Strike Force Team, Joint Border Patrol Team and especially the resilience and vigilance of officers and men of Oyo/Osun Command.
“The collaborative efforts of Sister Agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Oyo State Operation Burst and Amotekun Corps are also very much appreciated.
“I cannot close this address without acknowledging the cooperation of the Traditional rulers, Local Government Chairmen, Youth and Community leaders and the good people of Oyo and Osun States who have continue to provide peaceful and enabling environment for our officers and men to carry out their statutory duties.
“In conclusion, may I reiterate that Oyo/Osun Command under our watch would maintain zero tolerance for smuggling bearing in mind its negative implication on the economic growth and development of our great country, Nigeria.
“I would like to thank the Gentlemen of the Press for honouring our invitation. I wish you all safe journey back to your respective destinations.
