The Kebbi State Customs Area Command, has seized contrabands with paid duty values of over One hundred and twenty six million naira in the state.
The Command’s Area Comptroller, Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, who made this known while briefing newsmen on the successes of the command within two months of his assumption of duty, said the achievement was as a result of resilience and courage effort of officers and men of the command, Inteligence Unit, Joint Border Patrol Team and collaboration with sister security agencies.
The Comptroller mentioned that, the seized items include, 212 foreign parboiled rice of 50kg and 28 bags of 25kg each, 200 bales of used second hand clothing Jumbo size and 50 bales of normal size, 39 lumps of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 78 roles of Diclofenac Sodium and 300 wraps of Diazepam tablets of 5mg each.
Others are 37 packs of sex enhancement drugs, 150 Expired Powered Milk, 50 pieces of used tyres and 20 pieces of rims, 20 catoons of foreign Spaghetti, 20 bags of foreign sugar, 10 Jerrycans of vegetales oils and 10,025 liters of PMS.
According to the Comptroller, the seized Indian Hemp would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while the Diazepam tablets will be given to NAFDAC.
Comptroller Ernest Ojike, told newsmen that, revenue generation in Kebbi Command has stalled in recent times due to border closure between Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republics and recently the federal government has authorised the reopening of Kamba Border as the only import/export outlet for the state which the Command generated revenue of over seven point two million naira in two months under review which is 125 percent as compared to the two previous months.
Comptroller Ojike, pointed out that, the Command has been engaging stakeholders on legitimate trade facilitation.
“We also meet with traditional rulers and their subjects to further enlighten them on the dangers of smuggling in border communities”.
“We also collaborate with relevant sister security agencies to enhanced our operations in terms of security and intelligence to improve legitimate cross border trade with neighbouring countries.
Abdullahi Tukur
