By UDEME CLEMENT

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) ,Ogun State Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), DC Oteri Richard, has attributed the recent loss of an operational vehicle to an attack by smugglers.

Oteri explained that smuggling in the region has taken a new trend with smugglers operating by mid-night and attacking Customs officers with arms in order to prevent arrest of contra-band items coming into the country through the back door.

DC Oteri Richard

He explained that smugglers recently attacked his officers as they tried to prevent seizure of 10 vehicles smuggled into the country. “ON 27, July, during an operation by mid-night we made seizures of 10 imported vehicles at a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N8million being smuggled into the command.

The 10 vehicles brought in at the same time were spotted first by our patrol team who called for reinforcement to carry out the arrest due to resistance by the smugglers.

With the intervention of other security officials in the command, we dislodged the hoodlums and carried out the arrest, but not without problem as the hoodlums mobilised and immediately burnt our operational vehicle, which was a new Hilux used by officers for border patrol.

During the operation, we discovered that the smugglers who   were heavily armed began shooting indiscriminately not minding the lives of people within the community.

He added, “Also, we discovered that even people who have the resources to pay import duty deliberately sabotage the economy. For instance, we impounded a Mercedes Benz worth over N10million being smuggled into the Command through Ipokia area without any duty payment.Not withstanding, we have stepped up security at the border points in order to curtail illegal trades and prevent offensive goods from coming into the country”.

Some indigenes of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the activities of smugglers was a cause for serious concern. “Sometimes the smugglers are so restless in shooting as they escape into the community to hide from in being arrested”, said a trader in the community.