Customs Controller Reveals How Smugglers Use School Children to Traffic on Cannabis at Seme Border Routes
*Says Nigerians engaged in illegal export of food items
By Our Reporter
The Area Controller, Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Timi Bomodi, on Tuesday raised alarm on how school children are being used by desperate smugglers to traffic on cannabis sativa at the border areas.
Bomodi said the smugglers have been discovered to be conveying cannabis sativa through innocent school children at border routes.
The Area Controller who spoke during a press conference while decrying such practice warned parents to ensure that their kids were not allowed to be used for such practices.
The Controller however assured that his Command will continue to ensure that it stops the smugglers from having their way.
Noting that the Lagos Badagry expressway remains a major passageway in the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, Bomodi said the operatives of the Command will continue to protect the corridor which according to him has multiple tributaries and creeks
He said that the Command as the lead agency collaborates with the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and Army.
He said, “We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our activities will spare no effort in devising new methods to counter us. Some of these efforts will include misinformation and disinformation. We would like to assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent upon casting aspersions on our officers, some of whom have paid the ultimate price for the service to their country. Others have been severely maimed and will bear the scars of their bravery to their graves.”
“These are challenging times for the Nigeria Customs Service. As criminals get more desperate and daring, we at Seme/Krake Joint Border Post will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense,”
On revenue generation, the Controller said that the Command collected the sum of N1.16 billion in two months, a development which according to him represents 88% of the revenue target for the months of January and February 2024
He said, “The Command was given a target of N7.875 billion to collect in the current year. This represents an increase of over 400% in collections compared to the target of 2023. This also translates to a monthly collectible revenue of N656.258 million. In January 2024, the Command collected N643,038,611.16, while in February, we collected N517,950,286.14, making a total of N1,160,988,897.30. This is about 88% of the total expected revenue.”
Bomodi also revealed that the Command was able to process 184 export declarations for 43 items which had a total weight of 65,185.96 MT and an FOB value of N13.057billion.
He disclosed that the total amount collected for NESS was N65.337 million, and N24.407 million as Export Surcharge for previously imported goods.
According to him, “Between January and February 2024, the Command successfully made 168 interventions which resulted in the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg (3 trailer load equivalent) foreign parboiled rice, 81,930 liters (3 tankers equivalent), 9 vehicles, 1425 General merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149 pkg of codeine and 2 locally manufactured guns. All with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365,888,696.
“A total of thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures. Six of them were granted administrative bail, three were handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 3 suspects are still in our custody.”
He disclosed that some Nigerians have been found to be engaged in illegal export
He said, “In line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally, the Command made a seizure of a truckload of beans, totaling 400 bags with a DPV of N61,450,00.00, stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors in the border. This item has since been deposited in the government warehouse for safekeeping and eventual sale to the public.
“The continuous surveillance of the border by our officers resulted in the interceptions of 400x30liters of PMS equivalent to 12,000 liters with a DPV of N8,347,680 in the early hours of Saturday, 2nd March 2024 along the creeks. The PMS seized will be auctioned in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of seized perishable items as directed by the Service.”
By Our Reporter
The Area Controller, Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Timi Bomodi, on Tuesday raised alarm on how school children are being used by desperate smugglers to traffic on cannabis sativa at the border areas.
Bomodi said the smugglers have been discovered to be conveying cannabis sativa through innocent school children at border routes.
The Area Controller who spoke during a press conference while decrying such practice warned parents to ensure that their kids were not allowed to be used for such practices.
The Controller however assured that his Command will continue to ensure that it stops the smugglers from having their way.
Noting that the Lagos Badagry expressway remains a major passageway in the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, Bomodi said the operatives of the Command will continue to protect the corridor which according to him has multiple tributaries and creeks
He said that the Command as the lead agency collaborates with the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and Army.
He said, “We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our activities will spare no effort in devising new methods to counter us. Some of these efforts will include misinformation and disinformation. We would like to assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent upon casting aspersions on our officers, some of whom have paid the ultimate price for the service to their country. Others have been severely maimed and will bear the scars of their bravery to their graves.”
“These are challenging times for the Nigeria Customs Service. As criminals get more desperate and daring, we at Seme/Krake Joint Border Post will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense,”
On revenue generation, the Controller said that the Command collected the sum of N1.16 billion in two months, a development which according to him represents 88% of the revenue target for the months of January and February 2024
He said, “The Command was given a target of N7.875 billion to collect in the current year. This represents an increase of over 400% in collections compared to the target of 2023. This also translates to a monthly collectible revenue of N656.258 million. In January 2024, the Command collected N643,038,611.16, while in February, we collected N517,950,286.14, making a total of N1,160,988,897.30. This is about 88% of the total expected revenue.”
Bomodi also revealed that the Command was able to process 184 export declarations for 43 items which had a total weight of 65,185.96 MT and an FOB value of N13.057billion.
He disclosed that the total amount collected for NESS was N65.337 million, and N24.407 million as Export Surcharge for previously imported goods.
According to him, “Between January and February 2024, the Command successfully made 168 interventions which resulted in the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg (3 trailer load equivalent) foreign parboiled rice, 81,930 liters (3 tankers equivalent), 9 vehicles, 1425 General merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149 pkg of codeine and 2 locally manufactured guns. All with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365,888,696.
“A total of thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures. Six of them were granted administrative bail, three were handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 3 suspects are still in our custody.”
He disclosed that some Nigerians have been found to be engaged in illegal export
He said, “In line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally, the Command made a seizure of a truckload of beans, totaling 400 bags with a DPV of N61,450,00.00, stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors in the border. This item has since been deposited in the government warehouse for safekeeping and eventual sale to the public.
“The continuous surveillance of the border by our officers resulted in the interceptions of 400x30liters of PMS equivalent to 12,000 liters with a DPV of N8,347,680 in the early hours of Saturday, 2nd March 2024 along the creeks. The PMS seized will be auctioned in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of seized perishable items as directed by the Service.”
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