*Impounds N20million worth of fake drugs

By Udeme Clement

The Ogun Customs Command has intercepted 37 vehicles loaded with foreign imported rice at a forest within Ipokia axis of Owode Alari, Ifoyintedo community, along Idiroko, the border between Nigeria and Republic of Benin, through intelligence gathering by enforcement officers. The Command swiftly arrested three suspects in connection with the seizures. This is coming just few weeks after the same Command seized about 33cartons of fake drugs estimated at over N20million and 76.3kg of cannabis sativa, smuggled into the country through the border.

The officer in charge of Enforcement Unit of the Command, DC Mohammed Gagiyo disclosed this, explaining that the 37 vehicles, which include mini-trucks, passat, mazda cars and other vehicles were intercepted in the forest at night through a tip off.

Some of the items seized by Ogun Command

He said, “Investigation is on-going, as the suspects must be prosecuted in court accordingly. In our quest to combat smuggling, the Command’s anti-smuggling architecture has been redesigned to achieve maximum result. In line with this new strategy, large volumes of seizures are recorded on daily basis. The Command is not relenting in its collaborative efforts with other government agencies to rid the nation of unwholesome cross border trade and smuggling of any sort. We want the public and stakeholders to know that the ban on importation of rice through the land borders is till enforced.

Sunday Vanguard observed that the technique used by smugglers to bring in the foreign rice was mind boggling, as smaller cars designed for only four passengers carried up to 100 bags of 50kg rice each. Most shocking was the discovery of some mini-trucks used for conveyance. The trucks had nothing on the surface to raise suspicion about prohibited goods, but padded with extra iron compartments within the engine area with over 60bags of rice each. Aside from numerous seized items displayed in the open, their warehouse was filled to the brim with different seizures.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Freight Forwarders Association, Idiroko chapter, Tajudeen Oladapo Adetayo, commended the Command on the new strategies designed by the Area Controller to track down smugglers, stressing that Ogun Command has zero tolerance for smuggling. “Their Enforcement Unit is very active. You can see it in the achievements recorded by the current Area Controller since he took over the Command. The experience brought to bear by Comptroller Waindu Multafu, is making his officers very proactive in carrying out their duty. “In Ogun Command, Multafu also goes on patrol.

This has curtailed smuggling in the area tremendously. Also, people are made to pay appropriate duty on imported vehicles. The moment you bring in imported vehicle, the Customs valuation unit gives you appropriate duty and you pay accordingly. There is nothing like people paying lesser duty on imported vehicles in Ogun Command. But we are appealing to government to reduce the duty considering the economic situation in the country now, because currently the duty is very high”, he stressed.