Unlucky Day for Smugglers at Seme

Fri, Aug 1, 2014
By publisher
3 MIN READ

BREAKING NEWS, Crime

Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, waylay smugglers using bush paths and seize frozen poultry products worth N5 million allegedly brought into Nigeria from Benin Republic

By Anayo Ezugwu  |  Aug. 11, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT

THE Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has caught up with the antics of smugglers using bush paths to bring in goods illegally into Nigeria. The Command said it had made a seizure of prohibited frozen poultry products worth N5 million in one of the bush paths of Seme border. The seizure, ostensibly being brought into the country from the Republic of Benin, was targeted at the Muslim post-fast celebration.

The smugglers, in an attempt to beat the various patrol teams of the command, brought the poultry products through bush paths which are unapproved routes but were shocked to see Customs officers who were keeping vigil at all possible areas of passage. On sighting the operatives from afar in the bush, the smugglers tried to reverse to the Republic of Benin and not being able to do so, fled into the bush abandoning their wares and the three vehicles used to convey the banned goods.

Wrapped cartons of frozen chicken
Wrapped cartons of frozen chicken

Willy Egbudin, Area Controller of the command, who supervised the destruction of the seized poultry products, described the seizure as a warning signal to desperate smugglers who, during every period of festivities, push their unlawful trade far by daring the resolve of the Customs. He added: “the law is no respecter of persons and its full weight will be brought to bear on those involved in the smuggling act even as the command has commenced investigations aimed at getting them arrested.

Customs destorying the confisticated frozen chicken
Customs destorying the confisticated frozen chicken

“This seizure is a warning signal to anyone who attempts to dare us during festivities or any other time of the year. Because we are aware of their antics, our men are deployed in the bushes while normal patrol and manned approved check points are sustained. Our Comptroller General’s zero tolerance for smuggling is being pursued with renewed vigour and zeal, therefore any attempt to undermine our presence will be dealt with in line with the Customs and Excise Management Act. As we destroy and bury these seized frozen poultry products today, we will keep advising everyone to shun illegalities and invest their resources in legitimate trades. Laws being enforced by Nigeria Customs Service are no respecter of persons and we will continue to give our best in carrying out the directives of the CGC to the fullest. There will be no hiding place for smugglers at the border,” he said.

The controller also used the opportunity to remind youths of border communities to resist any attempt to be lured into smuggling or any act that can place them on the wrong side of the law. Meanwhile, investigations have commenced to arrest the owners of the vehicles used for the smuggling of the buried poultry products.

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