WMC Seizes 12,500 Liters Of PMS Along Badagry Waterways

By Chinonye Anyatonwu

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service( NCS), has said that the command made a remarkable seizures of 12,500 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS), 61 Kegs of 25 Litres each containing PMS, along Isalu Creeks Badagry Waterways eh-route Benin Republic. This is in fulfillment of its anti-smuggling functions which is one of the core mandate of Nigeria Customs Service as enshrined in the NCS Act 2023.

Briefing the pressmen today at the WMC premises, the Custom Area Controller of the command, Compt. Paul k. Bamisaiye said his officers swooped on the daredevil Smugglers on the Western Waterways and Creeks along Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic. In his words, “This seizures 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.”

Compt. Bamisaiye narrated that at about 2330hrs on Wednesday 8th May 2024, 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. On sighting the approach of our Officers. the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek, the loaded Boats were then towed to our Station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters Ibafon Apapa, Lagos.” According to Comptroller Bamisaiye, a careful examination at the command 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.

The action of the smugglers he stated, 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. The Command under the leadership of Compt. PK Bamisaiye is poised more than ever to rid our Waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria. Comptroller Bamisaiye said scientific measures are being put in place to ensure that Smugglers are deterred from engaging in such nefarious activities, he however noted that his officers and men are ever ready and vigilant to tackle the menace posed by these daredevil Smugglers. He commended the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for his support for the command, by providing equipment which helps in combating smugglers on the waterways.