The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Area Command, has intercepted Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel, foreign parboiled rice and assorted cosmetic products with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦83.124 million in a series of anti-smuggling operations.
The seizures comprised 14,100 litres of AGO, 204 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 40 cartons of assorted cosmetic products, and a fibre boat suspected to have been used for smuggling activities.
The acting Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Thomas Jonah, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing, attributing the seizures to intelligence-driven enforcement operations and routine patrols across the Command’s Area of Responsibility.
According to him, the first interception occurred on Thursday, November 5, when a joint patrol team comprising officers from Yekeme, Badagry and the Command Information Patrol recovered 40 cartons of assorted cosmetic products.
He further disclosed that at about 3:45 a.m. on Friday, November 6, officers intercepted 50 kegs of AGO, each containing 50 litres, totalling 2,500 litres, along Akere waterways.
In a separate operation, the Command’s Information and Bar Beach Outstation Team, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted another 232 kegs of AGO, amounting to 11,600 litres, along Tarkwabay waterways at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7.
On the foreign rice seizure, DC Jonah said the Command intercepted 204 bags of foreign parboiled rice with a Duty Paid Value of ₦19.584 million through its enforcement activities.
He explained that the suspected smugglers abandoned the items and fled upon sighting the approaching Customs officers, thereby escaping arrest.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of a fibre boat fitted with a 40-horsepower outboard engine, suspected to have been deployed in the attempted smuggling operation.
DC Jonah commended the officers for their vigilance, professionalism, dedication and prompt response to credible intelligence.
He reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to sustain its anti-smuggling campaign through strengthened intelligence gathering, intensified waterway surveillance and collaboration with relevant security agencies.
According to him, the enforcement drive aligns with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
He urged members of the public, particularly communities and stakeholders operating along the waterways, to provide credible and timely information that could assist the Service in identifying and apprehending smugglers.
“There will be no hiding place for smugglers and economic saboteurs within our area of responsibility,” Jonah declared.
He further disclosed that the seized Automotive Gas Oil would be auctioned to members of the public in accordance with extant laws, given its hazardous nature.
