Comptroller Odaudu Ada Salefu making a speech at the press conference.
Story by Dili Utomi.
CAC O. ADA SALEFU HITS THE GROUND RUNNING, RECORDS 15 INCIDENCES OF SEIZURES IN 3 MONTHS.
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has in the period between January to March, 2023 recorded 15 incidences of seizures that has a cumulative Duty Paid Value of One Hundred and Ten Million, One Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Four Naira, Fifty Kobo (#110,195,934.50) only.
This much was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Odaudu Ada Salefu in a press briefing today at the Command’s premises at Ibafo, Apapa Lagos.
A display of some of the seized items (bags of foreign parboiled rice).
Comptroller Salefu who resumed at the duty post in January said that these items were seized under the period
A. One Thousand Five Hundred and Nineteen (1,519) bags of 50kg size Foreign Parboiled Rice.
B. Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five (8,825) liters of Premium
Motor Spirit (PMS) contained in Four Hundred and Sixty-Eight (468) kegs of 25liters each.
C. Seven Hundred (700) pairs of foreign used shoes. D. Twenty (20) used foreign ladies bags.
E. Eighty Eight (88) cartons of Caro White Cream (bleaching cream) F. Fifty (50) pairs of expired tyres.
G. Three (3) Outboard Boat Engines and One (1) Water Pumping Machines and that all the stated items were seized at various intervals within the period under review.
The CAC with some of the seized tyres.
Comptroller Salefu also disclosed that following enforcement operations , 5 suspects have been arrested and have been granted administrative bail pending when charges will be proffered against them in Court.
He posited that the Western Marine Command has always enjoyed cordial relationships and cooperation from the members of the host communities who together with their leadership remain a major source of intelligence gathering.
The CAC revealed that “The Western Marine Command on the 28th of March 2023 and the 3rd of April received in addition to its fleet of boats four additional operational boats consisting of two gun boats and two logistics boat from NCS headquarters out of the seven gun boats already allocated to the Command”.
He appealed to smugglers to abandon all economic sabotage and unlawful trade and to embrace legitimate trade as WMC will not rest on its oars to rid the Creeks/Waterways of illegal trade practices and that they will continue to enforce Federal laws and policy restrictions.
The CAC took journalists round to see the seized items and the new boats and while fielding questions from journalists, the CAC jocularly warned all skin bleachers to ask God for fairer skin and not to depend on the Chinese to make skin bleaching components for them, this is in order to close the market for bleaching creams.
In conclusion, he said “While appreciating the CGC support and the cooperation of our sister agencies and partners, I call on the Media and general public to continue to cooperate with the Service by volunteering vital information that will help the service fulfill its obligations of suppressing smuggling in the Creeks/waterways and facilitate legitimate trade by the proper implantation of government fiscal policies.
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