Friday, October 3, 2014

NCS Intercepts 11, 264 Bags of Rice worth N56.3m


John Iwori
 
Not less than 11, 264 bags of rice worth N56.3 million have been intercepted by men and officers of the intelligence arm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU).

The interception of the staple commodity which was illegally imported into Nigeria through one  its neighbouring countries, Republic of Benin was sequel to what the unit called “the paradigm shift in the operational methodologies and modalities”.

The commodity with a duty paid value of N95.7 million was uncovered by men and officers of NCS, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos in a hideout located in a creek at Igbesan, Ogun State.

The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Turaki Usman Adamu, who confirmed the development while inspecting the intercepted commodity, stated that the seizure was effected by Lagos Roving Team Operations headed by AC Adamu Abubakar Mohammed, comprising other officers/men of the unit.

Adamu, a Deputy Comptroller (DC) revealed that the interception of the commodity was based on intelligence report which revealed that smugglers were planning to use the creeks to bring in large quantities of rice from the Republic of Benin.

According to him, sequel to this development, operational modalities to ensure that there was no leakage of information to the targeted group was fashioned out. The team laid ambush for the consignment for almost three days before they struck.

He noted that the area is reputed as volatile and inaccessible particularly for Customs and several attempts to raid the place in the past was met with stiff opposition from the hostile smugglers.

He revealed that the area has recorded several attacks on Customs patrol teams that attempted in the past to stop their nefarious activities.

His words: “It is therefore not surprising to see the renewed vigour and dexterity of the FOU ‘A’ operations particularly the Lagos Roving Team. On arrival at the scene of crime, we started evacuation, even though we faced challenge of a terrain that is not motorable. On completion of evacuation, we destroyed the instrumentality of crime, the wooden boats, their storage facilities, and out board engines. This is aimed at frustrating their future attempts.

“It is actually amazing to understand the naivety of the Baale of the community who from all indications seem not to know that smuggling is an economic crime. He told us point blank that smuggling is their only means of survival as the proceeds therefrom are used for developing their community. I was perplexed at that and I want to use this opportunity to urge the media both print and electronic to embark on mass education and sensitization using local dialects to disseminate information on the dangers of smuggling”, he said.

It was also revealed that the unit rolled out its armoured personnel carrier (APC) for these operations in view of the volatile nature of the area.

He commended the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi for giving expressed permission for the rolling out of the APC because of the volatile nature of the area.

He disclosed that the Lagos roving team met stiff opposition from the smugglers, hence the need for reinforcement from the neighbouring Commands of Ogun and Seme, as well as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Navy and others who provided security for the evacuation of the consignment.

“The rampaging smugglers were contained by our operatives who brought the experiences from their various trainings to bear. Even though the smugglers engaged our operatives in a shootout, the combined team of our operatives over powered them with their superior fire power,” he added.

Adamu hailed the CGC and his management for the enormous support which the unit has received from them.
He stated that the officers/men of the unit are fully determined more than ever to take the war against smuggling to the deadliest and most volatile parts of the South West.

He added that the new zeal and passion of the officers is attributable to the welfare programmes of the CGC which provided for motivation/remuneration, training and re-training, provision of functional patrol vehicles, arms/ammunition and the general well-being of the officers/men of the service.

He promised that the unit will strategize on how to sustain its present anti-smuggling tempo particularly at this ember months to guide against complacency.

The CAC expressed his appreciation to the entire officers/men of the unit and particularly the Lagos Roving Team for raising the ante in anti-smuggling through the deployment of proactive measures in the campaign against smuggling.
He expressed optimism with the capacity and competence of the officers/men of FOU ‘A’ to frontally tackle the hydra headed monster of smuggling.

“As daunting as the challenge of suppressing smuggling may be, we will continue to face it with unrelenting determination and will remain resolute in our attempt to suppress it to the barest minimum. The relentless commitment and tireless effort of officers and men of this unit is quite commendable”, he said.

Adamu also revealed that some smuggling flashpoints have been identified along the creeks and other illegal routes and promised that very intensive and aggressive patrol activities would be mounted in those areas in order to nip the activities of smugglers in the bud.
He called on Nigerians to always avail the unit with relevant information that could lead to the tracking of smugglers while also promising that the identity of such patriotic informants would be treated with utmost secrecy.

He advised those who engage in acts of smuggling to have a rethink as the service has zero tolerance for such unpatriotic act and promised that genuine importers or their agents will continue to enjoy the support of the NCS in line with our mandate to facilitate legitimate trade.

Culled from www.thisdaylive.com

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