Kebbi Customs Makes Incredible Interceptions

The Kebbi State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 180 donkeys skin and other contraband items worth ₦323,065,567 as well generated about N36.223 million revenue.

Comptroller of Customs, Kebbi State Area Command, Mr. Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, confirmed this while addressing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters, Birnin Kebbi.

Ojike, who also disclosed that the command impounded others items like foreign rice, used second hand clothes, cartons of medicaments, 16,300 litres of PMS within the third quarters of the year with the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦323,065,567.

According to him, “in the area of revenue generation, the Command has been on the frontline, working assiduously to improve the revenue generated yearly by the Command to meet up the set target.”

Even though a lot of challenges have affected the Command’s effort at revenue generation for the federal Government; such as low volume of imports through our only official border, Kamba, the Command was still able to generate the sum ₦36,223,554.50K within the period under review.

He disclosed that the whirlwind team, created by the Comptroller General of Customs, has reduced the level of pms smuggling in the state.

He stated the seized smuggled items by the anti smuggling patrol includes; 367 of bales of secondhand clothings, 16,300 liters of PMS, 74 cartons of different medicaments, 8 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, 180 pieces of donkey skin bundled in nine (9) sacks, 2 litres of Oxidized Nitric Acid of 35kg each and 1 unit of DAF truck and Toyota Corolla as means of conveyance, among others.

“It may interest you to know that 5 suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures above and they have been granted administrative bail in compliance with the provision of the constitution pending further investigation and proper trial of their case.”

“The Duty Paid Value of the seized items is ₦323, 065, 567. The above seizures were possible with the combined efforts of the outfield officers, our intelligence Unit, Patrol team leaders, other relevant units, sister agencies and well-meaning Nigerians who provided intelligence”, he said.

He, however, handed over the seized donkeys skin to Quarantine Service of Nigeria and Medicaments to the representative of the NAFDAC respectively.

“Acting within the policy thrust of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR of consolidation, innovation and collaboration, the Command will shortly hand over one hundred and eighty (180) pieces of donkey skin and seventy four (74) cartons of different medicaments to Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) respectively.”

“Furthermore, I will like to use this medium to warn smugglers and their syndicates that our officers and men are well positioned and equipped to scuttle all their activities, therefore, we urge them to abstain from their nefarious act. Kebbi State must be free from any smuggling activities”, he said.

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By Ola Lawal