Fulfilling its anti-smuggling functions which is one of the core mandate of Nigeria Customs Service as enshrined in the NCS Act 2023, the Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service known for its major onslaught against the reign of smuggling on our Western Waterways and Creeks has made a seizure of One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.
The Customs Ares Controller ( CAC) Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye revealed this during a press briefing that was organized at the command’s conference room on the 10th of May 2024 at Ibafon , Coconut Area of Tincan Island Lagos Nigeria.
The CAC stressed that Careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only.
He noted that the Seizure is most economically significant to the Command at this period of scarcity of Petroleum Products especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in our cities, and shows the anticipatory posture in our response to economic saboteurs.
According to Comptroller Bamisaiye , “On Wednesday 8th May 2024 at about 23:30hrs , while on joint patrol by Teams in the Command credible intelligence was received of the movement of Two (2) Boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in Sacks. Upon receipt of the information the Team moved into Isalu Creeks Badagry Waterway.
He narrated on how the smugglers took to their heels sighting his officers through the shore of the Creek, the loaded Boats were then towed to the command’s Station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters Ibafon Apapa, Lagos.
He frowned that the action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service through Western Marine Command is responsible for enforcing.
He maintained that the Command under his leadership is poised more than ever to rid the Waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria, therefore advised smugglers to desist or face the wrought of law, Bsnisaiye concluded.
