Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command today Tuesday handed over recovered stolen vehicles to the Nigerian Police Force, Lagos Command for further investigation.
Addressing Journalists at the Customs area command headquarters in Ilorin, comptroller Kehinde Ilesanmi said the vehicles were intercepted by the operatives of his command at the Chikanda Border post in Kusobosu Local Government Area of the State on 14th June 2023 and 16th of July, 2023 respectively and investigation has revealed that they were stolen vehicles.
In his world “It will be recalled that Kwara Command land border is still under lock and key for movement of vehicles and other commercial activities. On Wednesday, 14th June, 2023 at about 1705hrs, which is 5:05pm, the Command intercepted one 2010 model Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep with Chassis Number JIEBXFJOAKOO7069 and Reg. No. EPE-911- HH at Chikanda Border post in Kusobosu Local Government Area of the State. During the course of investigation, it was discovered that the registration number of the said vehicle belonged to a Toyota Hiace Bus. This is what heightened the curiosity of our officers and the vehicle was detained.
“In what looked like a drama, on Sunday the 16th of July, 2023 exactly Thirty (30) days after, at about 1430hrs which is 2:30pm our officers’ yet again intercepted one used Toyota Hiace Bus with Chassis Number TRH200155105 in Chikanda heading towards Benin Republic. Surprisingly, the same registration number EPE-911- HH which the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep earlier intercepted had was displayed as the registration number.
“After preliminary investigation by our enforcement and legal unit, it was established that the two vehicles were stolen.
“In the spirit of inter agency collaboration, the approval of CGC was sought and received to hand over the two vehicles to Nigerian Police Force for continuation of investigation.
“In order to carry out directives of the CGC, we decided to invite the Commissioner of Police Lagos State where the offese was committed for the handing over and taking over of the vehicles.
The Comptroller also disclosed that “from June –October, 2023 the Command has recorded Fifteen (15) seizures, which includes 352 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, and 1,875 liters of PMS of 25 liters each in 75 Jeri cans, and Three 3 suspects were arrested added that Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizure is N11, 149,636.00.
“The command generated the sum of N5, 992,300,562.73 as revenue said it surpasses what was generated same period last year 2022 with N 307,517,623, 49.
The Comptroller also acknowledged receipt of additional Four (4) patrol vehicles from the national headquarters to boost the operation of the state command.
“I would like to use this opportunity to restate that the ban through the land borders on importation of foreign rice, used vehicles, Vegetable Oil, Secondhand Clothing, Used Tyres, and other dangerous Drugs such as Marijuana and tramadol is still in place and Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command is committed to enforcing this without compromise.” he said
