Comptroller Bamisaiye making his speech at the briefing.
Story by Dili Utomi.
In fulfillment of its protection of the national economy mandate (anti-smuggling) which is one of the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service as enshrined in the NCS Act 2023, the Western Marine Command of the Service in a major onslaught against the reign of smuggling on our Western Waterways and Creeks has made a seizure of One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.
The new Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Bamisaiye PK in his first press briefing after the resumption of duty about two weeks ago said that “The Seizure is most economically significant to the Command at this period of scarcity of Petroleum Products especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in our cities, and shows the anticipatory posture in our response to economic saboteurs”
Some of the seized items.
He noted that “At about 2330hrs on Wednesday 8th May 2024, while on joint patrol by Teams in the Command credible intelligence was received of the movement of Two (2) Boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in Sacks. Upon receipt of the information the Team moved into Isalu Creeks Badagry Waterway”.
His words “On sighting the approach of our Officers the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek, the loaded Boats were then towed to our Station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters Ibafon Apapa, Lagos”.
The seized items foreground with the CAC taking the journalists round it all.
“Careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only”.
The CAC added that “The action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service through Western Marine Command is responsible for enforcing. This Command is poised more than ever before to rid our Waterways of all acts of smuggling and economic sabotage for the benefit and the growth of the economy of Nigeria”. He concluded.
For advert placements and more information, please call us on 08027590195, 08035721540 or email us on [email protected] or send us messages on x @dn_utomi or on instagram @utomidili.
