Our Target Is to Force Smugglers to Their Knees, Says FOU Controller
OLADEJI
*Applauds CGC for deploying right tools in battle against smuggling
*Blockade on roads to ensure containers are not diverted from bonded terminals – Oladeji
By Francis Ugwoke
The Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller IK Oladeji, on Monday said that the measures put in place by the Service have led to a decline in smuggling in the past one year.
Oladeji said the series of seizures of different items in the past one year and in recent times have remained a big blow to smugglers, adding that the target is to force smugglers to their knees.
Speaking to members of the League of Maritime Editors (LOMÉ) who paid him a courtesy visit, the Controller said that since the present Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi assumed office, smuggling has seriously reduced nationwide.
He explained that this was because all the aspects not being looked into before are now being policed.
He added that the Comptroller General has redoubled the efforts of the Service in combating smuggling since he assumed office.
According to him, the various seizures recorded at different ports are clear indices of the measures to address smuggling in the country.
Oladeji identified various seizures of some goods in Lagos, Adamawa, Abeokuta, Onne and Calabar, including arms and ammunition, several containers of prohibited drugs as part of the efforts to battle smuggling to a standstill by the leadership of the Customs.
He said the Comptroller-General has been working harder than ever in a determined move to put round pegs in round holes.
Oladeji who described smuggling as a monster that must not be given any chance, pointed out that the establishment of the Whirlwind Task Force Team has helped so much in checking the illegal exportation of petroleum products out of the country, describing the measures as unprecedented.
According to him, “since this Comptroller General came on board, all aspects of the Service not looked into before are now being constantly policed. Look at the issue of arms and ammunition, imagine the influx of drugs curtailed”.
He said that the Comptroller General has deployed the right tools in the fight against smuggling.
He noted the recent interception of three containers of poultry products at Apapa, saying this was a big feat for the Customs Service.
Responding to a question of blockade on the roads by the officers of the Federal Operations Unit, the Controller said that this was based on intelligence and also to ensure that containers are not diverted from bonded warehouses.
He disclosed that such checks have helped the Unit to discover false declarations, adding that importers engage in this trick to smuggle cargoes.
For instance, he said that a recent discovery revealed that some containerised goods were declared as agricultural products as against Chinese clothings discovered during 100 percent examination.
Earlier, the President of the League of Maritime Editors, Chief Timothy Paul Okorocha congratulated Oladeji for his appointment and the massive seizures that have been recorded since he assumed office.
Okorocha also informed the Controller of the planned Annual General Meeting (AGM) by the association scheduled to hold on August 22 and 23 at Lagos Travel Inn.
The Controller is expected to deliver a lecture on the success and challenges of the war against smuggling.
*Blockade on roads to ensure containers are not diverted from bonded terminals – Oladeji
By Francis Ugwoke
The Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller IK Oladeji, on Monday said that the measures put in place by the Service have led to a decline in smuggling in the past one year.
Oladeji said the series of seizures of different items in the past one year and in recent times have remained a big blow to smugglers, adding that the target is to force smugglers to their knees.
Speaking to members of the League of Maritime Editors (LOMÉ) who paid him a courtesy visit, the Controller said that since the present Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi assumed office, smuggling has seriously reduced nationwide.
He explained that this was because all the aspects not being looked into before are now being policed.
He added that the Comptroller General has redoubled the efforts of the Service in combating smuggling since he assumed office.
According to him, the various seizures recorded at different ports are clear indices of the measures to address smuggling in the country.
Oladeji identified various seizures of some goods in Lagos, Adamawa, Abeokuta, Onne and Calabar, including arms and ammunition, several containers of prohibited drugs as part of the efforts to battle smuggling to a standstill by the leadership of the Customs.
He said the Comptroller-General has been working harder than ever in a determined move to put round pegs in round holes.
Oladeji who described smuggling as a monster that must not be given any chance, pointed out that the establishment of the Whirlwind Task Force Team has helped so much in checking the illegal exportation of petroleum products out of the country, describing the measures as unprecedented.
According to him, “since this Comptroller General came on board, all aspects of the Service not looked into before are now being constantly policed. Look at the issue of arms and ammunition, imagine the influx of drugs curtailed”.
He said that the Comptroller General has deployed the right tools in the fight against smuggling.
He noted the recent interception of three containers of poultry products at Apapa, saying this was a big feat for the Customs Service.
Responding to a question of blockade on the roads by the officers of the Federal Operations Unit, the Controller said that this was based on intelligence and also to ensure that containers are not diverted from bonded warehouses.
He disclosed that such checks have helped the Unit to discover false declarations, adding that importers engage in this trick to smuggle cargoes.
For instance, he said that a recent discovery revealed that some containerised goods were declared as agricultural products as against Chinese clothings discovered during 100 percent examination.
Earlier, the President of the League of Maritime Editors, Chief Timothy Paul Okorocha congratulated Oladeji for his appointment and the massive seizures that have been recorded since he assumed office.
Okorocha also informed the Controller of the planned Annual General Meeting (AGM) by the association scheduled to hold on August 22 and 23 at Lagos Travel Inn.
The Controller is expected to deliver a lecture on the success and challenges of the war against smuggling.
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