The Nigeria Customs Service, kwara State Area Command has intercepted dozens of Pump Action Catridges while smuggling it into the country through Bukuro Axis of Kwara border community.
Disclosing this, the Customs Area Commander, Comptroller Hussaini Bello Ahmed fsi, during a press conference organised to intimate members of the public about activities of the Command since he assumed officer as pioneer Area Commander.
According to him “the command under my watch from July 2019 to December 2021 has raked and remitted over Nineteen Billion Naira (N19 billion) to federation account”
The custom boss, disclosed further that “in year 2021 alone the command generated over Nine Billion (N9 billion) which surpass the revenue generated in the year 2020 with Two Billion (N2 billion)
Talking about seizures of contraband items recorded, he stated that “Based on intelligence report, the Command intercepted a Peugeot 504 vehicle with registration number AP 448 AKD. On searching the vehicle, it was found to contain a large quantity of pump action cartridges suspected to be smuggled into the country”
“This epic Seizure is very commendable at the backdrop of the heightened insecurity in the country. Should Three Thousand Six Hundred and twenty (3,620) rounds of live ammunition of this magnitude escaped into the Country and fall into wrong hands, the result will be appalling, devastating and disastrous”
He, warned that the intelligence gathering of the command is top notch said “I wish to reinstate here that our intelligence network in the command is still very strong. We deploy intelligence in virtually all our operations and greater successes are continuously being recorded on daily basis and that had yielded positive results”
“Within the period under review, the Command has recorded one Hundred and one seizures as against corresponding year 2020 with Eighty four seizures, 2,971 Bags of foreign par boiled Rice, 3,620 live cartridges as earlier mentioned above with a suspect, 420 Jeri cans of PMS, 39 Used Vehicles, 20 Jeri cans of Vegetable Oil, 17 Motorcycles used as a means of conveyance of foreign parboiled Rice and PMS, A total of five Suspects arrested within the period under review were released on administrative bail”
Noted that the highest contraband items seized within the period is 6,958 bags of foreign par boiled Rice which is over and above Eleven trailer load of rice.
“This sterling feat was largely recorded due to the leadership style of the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and his entire management team of the Service. We will continue to justify the incentives and logistics support we received which includes construction of Sixteen (16) man rank and files Barracks Accommodation at the only approved border station of the command, Chikanda, Renovation of Three (3) bedroom flat bungalow for senior officers plus Thirty (30) man rank and files both in Command Headquarters, Ilorin and most recently additional supply of (11) eleven Brand new patrol vehicles use for patrols and surveillance activities”
The Customs boss, however solicited for the support of the patriotic citizens said “I want to call on the media and the general public to endeavor to always volunteer useful information on smuggling activities to the Command for the betterment of the Nation. At the same time, let me use this medium to appeal to traditional rulers, religious leaders, ward heads and community leaders to educate the youths against the dangers of smuggling, particularly the smuggling of Arms and Ammunition”
