Barely two weeks of launching its seagoing vessel ” Customs Pride”, the Western Marine Command , Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday, announced the seizure of goods estimated at N61.611,925.00 .
Controller of the command, Comptroller Boyiliya Binga while addressing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Lagos,said the seizures were made at different locations within it’s jurisdiction which include the high sea.
Highlighting the items intercepted by officers and men aboard the vessel , Comptroller Binga said a total of 433 bags of 50kilogrammes foreign parboiled rice and bags of second hand clothing were intercepted.
Other items intercepted include: Bags of second hand shoes, Buffalo horns ,bales of foreign fabrics, bales of clothing materials for Mopol, Immigration, Navy, Quarantine, machetes, fake tramadol and 3,000 empty kegs.
He said the fight against smuggling activities with the sea going vessels have continued to yield positive results adding that operatives of the command have embarked on several strategies in curbing the menace.
Giving a background information on the seized items,he maintained that officers and men of the command embarked on 24hours patrol of the waters which in turn resulted to the massive seizure.
The Customs boss reiterated that “We want to make it clear to these economic saboteurs and their accomplices that Customs do not negotiates with smugglers.
” Items found to be contraband will be seized and offenders prosecuted “,he said.
According to him, the first launch of the seagoing vessel ” Customs Pride ” on the 23rd of October with ten officers on board led to the remarkable exploits in some of the seizure.
He also called on the general public to assist the command with useful information that would curb smuggling activities at sea and land borders.
