Seme Customs Command Made Successful 168 Interventions In Two Months

Seme Customs Command Made Successful 168 Interventions In Two Months

... With the ever changing dynamics of Smuggling, Customs at Seme will remain one step ahead – Says Compt. Bomodi

By: Bisi Akingbade

The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command yesterday announced its successful efforts made  during 168 interventions in the last two months (January and February 2024) which has resulted in the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg (3 trailer load equivalent), foreign parboiled rice, 81,930 litres of petrol (3 tankers equivalent), 9 vehicles, 1425 General Merchandise, 265 Parcels of Cannabis Sativa and other narcotics. 249pkgs of codeine and 2 locally manufactured guns. All with a combined Duty Paid Value  of 365,888,696.00 at Seme Border Krake 

The Customs Area Controller,  Seme Customs Command, Compt. Timi Bomodi while addressing Journalists disclosed that 13 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, 6 of which were granted administrative bails, 3 were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA for further Agency action. 1 was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while suspects are still languishing in Customs’ custody.

The Seme Customs Command also made a seizure of a truck load (400) bags of beans with DPV of N61,450,00.00 stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors at the border. This item, according to the CAC, has been deposited in the government warehouse for safe keeping and would be sold to the public at a controlled rate when given the nod by the CGC , “considering the unfortunate loss of lives which necessitated a suspension but as soon as Modalities are put in place, we shall do it in an orderly manner.” He disclosed.

He also said the surveillance of the border by officers and men of the border Command resulted in the interceptions of 400 ×30litres Jerry Cans of PMS equivalent of 12,000 litres, with a total DPV of N8,347,680 in the early hours of Saturday March 2, 2024, along the Creeks. Controller Bomodi further informed that the seized PMS will be auctioned in line with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of perishable items as directed by the Service.

The Area Controller stated that ” These seizures come in the heels of successes in anti – Smuggling activities recorded in 2023, which saw 513 seizures of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, general merchandise, drugs/narcotics and vegetable oil. Others were $6,000,000.00 fake currency, 15 fake international passports, 10 International Driver’s licenses and152 live birds and other endangered species. All with a Duty Paid Value of over 2.212 Billion Naira.”

Comptroller Bomodi on Revenue Generation emphasised that his Command was given a target of N7.875b in the current year, which represents an increase of over 400% in the collection, compared to the target of 2023. This also translates to a monthly collectable revenue of N656.258m.

He affirmed that his command in January collected N643,038,611.16, and in February, collected N517,950,286.14, making a total of N1,160,988,897.30, this is about 88% of total expected revenue.