How Customs Beat Smugglers To Their New Criminal Tactics

JEFF EZEMADU

The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has uncovered the new method of smuggling introduced by smugglers in order to beat Customs officers.

This new unconventional method was uncovered by the Service’s eagle eyed patrol team led by Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), A.M Ali and Superintendent of Customs (SC) I.G Mwada when they intercepted a Lexus 450 jeep decorated with posters of a deceased person supposedly going for burial along Mile 2-Seme Road in Lagos.

The team also intercepted a waste disposal truck found to contain 534 used tyres disguised to be conveying waste for disposal.

In a statement released by CSC Selachang Taupyen, Public Relations Officer of the Seme Command on behalf of the Area Comptroller, Aliyu Mohammed, smugglers in the area are warned that no matter the antics they may devise both on land and the waters, they won’t go undetected.

Comptroller Mohammed, while inspecting the seizures, re-stated that the Federal Government policies on the importation of new and fairly used vehicles through the land borders must be fully implemented without compromise.

According to him, the Customs as an institution that enforces the federal government policies on imported goods, the compliance level on this ban must be fully implemented.

He however send the message to those smugglers patronising those illegal routes that they will continuously count their losses except they desist and that whoever get arrested will surely be prosecuted.

The Area Comptroller also re-emphasised that due to recent seizures of arms at the Lagos seaports, there is need to beef up security along the border lines.

“No such case has been recorded here due to the fact that we make every goods undergoes  screening using the scanner and our high level intelligence and professional competence. We have deployed our best to foil any attempt to smuggle arms through here and other trans border crimes,” said the comptroller.

Aliyu also made a clarion call on stakeholders, community leaders to assist the Customs with credible information in order effectively carryout its constitutional responsibilities.

He advised his patrol teams to be more proactive and must carryout this responsibility within the ambit of the law.

He advised the youths to desist from any form of temptation especially as the yuletide season is drawing near.

“If you are arrested, the law would take its full course,” he warned.