MARITIME SECURITY: UNODC To Install VTC Cisco Equipment At Western Marine Command

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has concluded plans to install Video Tele-Conferencing (VTC) Cisco WebEx equipment at Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service to boost operational activities of personnel and to curb other maritime related vices at sea.

 

 

The equipment is funded under the auspices of the Government of Denmark aimed at strengthening maritime law enforcement response to piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.

 

 

 

In a statement made available to DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA on Tuesday , by the command’s spokesman ASCI Isah Sulaiman,  the installation would be based on the outstanding performance of the officers/men of the command involved in the seizure of marijuana last year.

 

Recall  that the operatives of the Command had on the 24th April 2020 made a unique seizure of over 10tonnes of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) valued at N1, 002,050,000.00  which happened to be the biggest single item catch of Marijuana ever seized in the history of Nigeria Customs Service.

 

 

The spokesman quoted the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters saying; “These unprecedented seizures were made as a result of the strategies put in place in terms of 24hour patrol, capacity building, surveillance, intelligence gathering,doggedness and determination of our operatives in making the Zone unbearable for smugglers.

 

 

” This feat has received national and international commendations; the Comptroller General of Customs on behalf of the Management recognised the outstanding performance of the Officers/Men involved in the seizure with commendation letters.

 

“Also, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has recognised the Command and they are about to install a Video Tele-Conferencing (VTC) Cisco WebEx equipment that will aid our operations in the maritime industry.”

 

The statement which dwell extensively on the performance of the command’s operations from January to December 2020, explained that last year  was a year of biggest achievements in the history of Western Marine Command, adding that a total of  81 seizures of different items were intercepted from January to December, 2020.

 

 

The Comptroller  noted that the seizures had a total of with Total Duty Paid Value of N1, 104,647,370.00 against N129, 559,656.46 , recorded in the year 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

“I want to use this medium to appreciate the efforts of other sister agencies for their contributions in providing relevant information in making some of these seizures.”

 

 

 

“These seizures are strong indication that the operatives of the Command are

combat-ready in policing and enforcing the Federal Government Fiscal Policies

despite the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic” , Peters noted.

 

The statement further assured smugglers that officers/men of WMC under the leadership of Comptroller Olugboyega Peters will perform their statutory responsibilities in line with the policy thrust of the present administration of zero tolerance to corruption and other vices.

 

“To those unscrupulous elements; we want them to know that there is no

hidden place for them and whatever their strategy, we will always be ahead of them.

 

 

 

Consequently, the CAC WMC  reiterated the command’s firm commitment in

carrying out the duty vested on the service in suppressing smuggling and will not rest on its oars to bring smuggling to the barest minimum.

 

He also  enjoined  patriotic citizens to continue with their legitimate business in accordance with the extant laws as enshrined in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).

 

By Roland Ekama