Nigeria Custom Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command Controller, Adamu R. Abdulkadir, has said his administration is committed to fight against smuggling of prohibited items in the country, ensuring zero tolerance of corrupt practices through its anti-smuggling strategy tagged ‘Operation Fish Out’.

 The Command’s Controller disclosed this in a press briefing on Thursday while showcasing some of the successes recorded at the Command’s headquarters in Ibadan.

In its fight against smugglers in Oyo and Osun, Abdulkadir said his Area Command shall “Deploy all our strength and available logistics to ensure successes in the battle, and the two states will be unbearable for these economic saboteurs.”

He further explained that its administration has enhanced its anti-smuggling strategies by taking the battle to the door steps of the smugglers in an operation codenamed “Operation Fish Out”, rather than waiting for them to come out.  

He said the operation would as well invoke sections 147, 151, 158 and 167 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 LFN 2004, which allows officers of Nigeria Customs Service to patrol freely across the Nation and makes provision for detention, seizures and condemnation of goods that fail to conform with the rules guiding importation, exportation or local production of such goods.  

The Area Command Controller revealed that the Command was able to generate the sum of N4.89b revenue for the month of January, 2021, adding that the Command “Between 19th November, 2020 and 31st January 2021 made a series of seizures of detention and seizures amounting to a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N393,420,494, (Three Hundred and ninety three Million, four hundred and Twenty thousands, four hundred and Ninety Four Naira) only.”

Displaying the seizures by the Area Command, Abdulkadir stated that “the Command made seizures of 220 kegs, 25litres each, of Premium Motor Spirit (otherwise known as Petrol).

“20kg of Cannabis packed in a 20kg bag with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N4.52m, which will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.”

Other seizures disclosed included: 3052 bags of smuggled foreign rice with the DPV of N124.47m; 8kegs, 25liters each, of Vegetable Oil with the DVP of N217 thousand; 60 Bales of Second Hand Clothing (Okrika) with the DPV of N15m; 246 pieces of used Tyres with DPV of N2.6m; 8 units of Toyota Camry (2020 models) with the DVP of N211.5m; 1 used Toyota Highlander (2019 Model) with the DVP of N33.7m; 10 units of Motorcycles used as means of conveyance for smuggling of rice with the DVP of N1.2m; and 1 used Mercedes Benz ML350 (2014 Model) apprehended and placed under detention pending provision of customs document.

Controller Abdulkadir further emphasised that his Area Command will not relent in discharging its duties.

He said “these smugglers are not tired, so the Command will not be tired.”

He credited his achievements to the officers of the Oyo/Osun Area Command, saying they have given their best and their enlistment into the Nigeria Customs Service was well deserved.

He also acknowledged the assistance and contributions of other security agents that have helped in achieving such successes.

The supports of traditional rulers, community leaders, stakeholders and the good people of Oyo and Osun are as well acknowledged.

He therefore implored the public to divulge vital information that would help the command in discharging its duties to Nigeria Custom or any other security agents.