Ogun 1 Inflicts Economic Injury On Smugglers With Over N1.4 Billion Seizures Of Exotic Cars, Cannabis , Others
Ogun 1 Inflicts Economic Injury On Smugglers With Over N1.4 Billion Seizures Of Exotic Cars, Cannabis , Others
By Jerry Aguigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command has through its intelligence Driven operations inflicted serious holes on the economies of Smugglers by impounded three exotic cars, including a 2021 Rolls-Royce “Ghost” with a duty paid value of N905m. smuggled into the state, a 2018 Honda accord worth over 23 million and a Mercedes Benz car also in that range.
The seizures also include 4,424 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50 sacks and 1,936 parcels of coconut size cannabis sativa, 105 pieces of used pneumatic tyres, 21 bales and 3 sacks of used clothes and 6,400 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) all at a Duty Paid Value of N1,401,531,923.95.
Speaking with journalists, on Thursday, at Idiroko, the Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla said this was as a result of an unwavering commitment on the part of his officers employing intelligence driven measures.
His words: “Through intelligence-driven operations, resilience, and the unwavering commitment of our gallant officers, we successfully made the following seizures: Foreign Parboiled Rice of 50kg each 4,424 bags, which is over 7 truckloads. Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as marijuana sacks and 1,936 parcels of coconut size.
“Used Pneumatic Tyres – 105 pieces, used clothing bales and 3 sacks. Foreign-Used Vehicles, commonly known as Tokunbo 3 units including a Rolls-Royce worth billions of Naira. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)-6,400 litres.
“The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned seizures amounts to One Billion, Four Hundred and One Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Naira, Ninety-Five Kobo N1,401,531,923.95, representing a significant economic loss to smugglers but a huge gain to our national economy and security”.
According to Comptroller Otunla, the feat comes barley six weeks after the command intercepted 2,693 parcels of Cannabis Sativa otherwise known as Indian hemp, concealed inside a false compartment fabricated at the bottom of a Mercedes Benz truck.
Comptroller Otunla attributed the achievements within the short period to intelligence-driven operations, resilience, and the unwavering commitment of its gallant officers.
While doing the symbolic handing over of the seized items to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) the Customs Controller, stated the synergy is not only in compliance with government directives but also reinforces collective determination to safeguard public health, ensure national security, and protect the future of youths from the devastating effects of hard drugs.
On his part, the Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, Williams Ekundayo, lauded the command, even as he noted that the seizures are coming thick and fast, with three in two months.
He described the seizures as a testament and a demonstration of the Customs will to fight drug abuse, while also applying measures to safeguard the youths from the dangerous effects.
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