The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command on Tuesday declared that it has arrested no fewer than eight suspects in connection with smuggling of various contraband goods within the Command’s area of coverage.
Customs Area Comptroller in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Mr. Christopher Odibu made this revelation while briefing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on the activities of the Command.
Odibu while announcing that the command has generated the sum of Nine Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Two Hundred and Forty-one Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two Naira and Fifty-Six Kobo (N9, 436,241,792.56k), between January and May this year, added that the eight suspects arrested were nabbed along with some seized goods.
The Area Comptroller who added that most of the suspects have been released on bail, informed that the cases were still in court for further prosecution while investigation is ongoing on some of the cases.
Odibu said, “About eight (8) suspects were arrested along with some of these seized goods, most of the suspects have been released on bail but the cases are in court for further prosecution. Whilst investigation is still ongoing on some of the cases.
“It is important to highlight the achievements of the command from January to May of this year, 2018. During the period under review, the command generated the sum of Nine Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Two Hundred and Forty-one Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two Naira and Fifty-Six Kobo (N9, 436,241,792.56k), to the coffers of the government mainly from excise factories. This figure represents 38 percent of the revenue target given to the command.
The revenue generated same period last year was seven billion, two hundred and seventeen million, two hundred and forty seven thousand and forty nine kobo (N7,217,247,676.49k) showing a clear increase this year.
“All these achievements would not have been actualized without the gallant efforts of officers and men of the command and the existing synergy with other units like the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), and the CGC’c Strike Force. We all worked tirelessly to ensure that our territories are well secured to the best of our ability.
Odibu added that the command while acting on intelligence report and embarked on constant surveillance, seized 13 Tokunbo cars and 1, 669 bags of parboiled rice.
He said,”The officers and men of the command always act on intelligence report and embark on constant surveillance which has yielded the following seizures.
“13 Tokunbo cars with duty paid value at N21,145,799.56k, 1,669 (50kg) bags of parboiled rice with duty paid value at N14,747,255.65k, 44 (25 litres) kegs of vegetable oil with duty paid value at N754,469.10k, 38 bales of secondhand clothes with duty paid value at N5,829, 988.50k, 15 (50 kg) bags of sugar with duty paid value at N490,000.00k, and 13 means of conveyance (vehicle) with duty paid value at N7,663,055.33k.
“In totality, duty paid value of the seized items is at fifty million, six hundred and thirty thousand, five hundred and sixty eight naira and fourteen kobo (N50,630,568,14k).
“We will continue to encourage you members of the press to advise the public against the recalcitrant activities of economic saboteurs who still insist on engaging in the illicit business of smuggling or defrauding citizens and advise them to desist as they would not escape the long arm of the law”
