The Joint Borders Patrol Team, Sector 2, South West Zone, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Coordinator, Comptroller M.N Usman, has warned all those involved in any kind of transborder crimes and criminalities.
Comptroller Usman, in his warning also advised that those involved in transborder criminal activities should desist and embrace meaningful venture.
Usman, stated this on Friday, May 26th, 2023 while briefing the press on his team’s achievements.
He said; “It is with pleasure that I welcome you to this very important press briefing which is aimed at showcasing the team’s activities since I assumed office as Coordinator on the 12th of April, 2023 to 26th May, 2023.”
“As a prelude to a successful discharge of our mandate, I started by receiving briefings on the modus operandi of the unit whose operations are unique and peculiar from my predecessor, my officers and stakeholders.”
“I embarked on courtesy visits to the Customs Zonal Coordinator, all Customs Commands and various sister agencies within the zone to seek their cooperation, in terms of collaboration, synergy and information sharing.”
“The results of these visits which lasted 2 weeks are the seizures which will be showcased to you soon.”
“Like you already know, the Joint Border Patrol Operations is a coalition under the umbrella of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). It’s made up of components from the military, paramilitary and intelligence agencies inclusive of the Army, Navy, Customs, Immigration, the Police Force, State Security and the National Intelligence Services which all combined to operate under the lead role of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).”
“It is an interventionist unit set up with the objectives of helping to maintain national security, territorial integrity, curbing of illegal trade, forestalling the influx of arms and ammunition and generally providing a buffer zone for the conventional security agencies to be able to do their jobs rather more efficiently and smoothly.”
“This commendable effort of government has led to massive reduction of smuggling activities, human trafficking and trans borders crimes and criminalities both on land and water and has translated into several seizures of prohibited goods which have since been deposited in various government warehouses in commands within our coverage areas.”
“Within a month of my resumption, a total of 11, 419 items with Duty Paid Value of Three Hundred and Twenty – Seven Million, Six Hundred and Thirty – Nine Thousand, Four Hundred Naira only (N327,639,400:00k) and Auction Value of about Six Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty – Nine Thousand, Five Hundred Naira only(N6,789,500:00k) have been made.”
“Seizures deposited at Ogun 2 Command Abeokuta include:
- 2,338 bags of 50kg parboiled foreign rice;
- 723 (30litres) Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS);
- 61 pieces of used tyres;
- 17 vehicles used as means of conveyances;
- 1 motorcycle;
- 10 sacks of Cannabis Sativa; 14 sacks of New Leather bags and
- 8 bales of Second hand clothings.
Ogun 1 Command, Idiroko:
- 2,064 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice;
- 814 (30 litres) Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS);
- 18 vehicles used as means of conveyances; and
- 3 imported used cars.
Oyo/Osun Command:
- 433 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice;
- 694(30 litres) Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS);
- 4 vehicles used as means of conveyances and
- 2 imported used cars.
Government Warehouse Ikeja – Lagos:
- 151 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice;
- 1 Dane Gun and
- 1 Live Cartridge.
Seme Command:
- 897 bags of 50 kg imported foreign parboiled rice;
- 1,349 (30litres) Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS):
- 7 cars used as means of conveyances.
Cumulatively, seized goods within this period are;
- 5,883 bags of 50 kg imported foreign parboiled rice;
- 3,580 (30litres) Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS);
- 45 cars used as means of conveyances;
- 2 motorcycles used as means of conveyances;
- 61 pieces of used tyres;
- 10 sacks of Cannabis Sativa;
- 14 sacks of leather bags;
- 8 bales of Second hand clothings;
- 5 imported fairly used cars;
- 1 Dane Gun and
- 1 live ammunition.
“These seizures which are in violation of Schedule 3 and 4 of the Customs and Excise common external tariff on imports prohibition list were made possible by the use of technology and intelligence gathering.”
“It is heart warming to inform you that two suspects are currently being interrogated by our operatives in connection with gun running and rice smuggling.”
“While thanking the Nigeria Customs management ably led by our untiring and indefatigable Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) CFR, for choosing me to serve in this capacity, I wish to warn all those involved in any kind of transborder crimes and criminalities to desist and embrace meaningful endeavors.”
