The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, said the command has declared total war against smugglers frustrating government efforts, evading duty payments
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller JK Bamisaiye, while briefing Journalists on Tuesday in Lagos, stated that, the marching order is imperative due to smugglers inability to heed government directives.
He assured that, in any of their operations arrests would be made,
"l have given stringent orders to my officers and men under my watch to ensure that suspects are arrested in line with his enforcement mandates.
Comptroller Bamisaiye who is not ready to relent in his drive to suppress illegal business transactions within the Western region, hands over seized 17 bags of cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). .
Handing over the seized illicit drugs to operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Area Controller tasked personnel at sea on patrol to shoot any daredevil smugglers on their legs towards ensuring that they are arrested.
Apparently determined to bring smuggling to its barest minimum, I stressed that the Service will not only continue to intercept means of convenance of the illicit items, he insisted that personnel under his leadership will improve on the arrest of smugglers, because the Command is poised to shock anyone found daring his ability.
According to him, operatives have been instructed to shoot the smugglers on their leg and bring them to the Command for treatment, we have the facilities, he emphasized that the state of the WMC Clinic is fully equipped to treat wounded criminals.
He explaind that, ”I told my officers and men that, we are not supposed to kill but to shoot the smugglers on their legs. Our officers are marine officers, smugglers are more skillful in the water, when their children are born, they threw the little lad into the river to ascertain if he/she floats up will be a professional swimmer, the smugglers always dived into the water to escape arrest”, he said
He said the narrative of daredevil smugglers escaping arrests to leave goods behind and items intercepted must change,
Comptroller Bamisaiye urged smugglers on the waterways to shun illicit trade and embrace legitimate business, adding that the service will not patronise any form of negativity on the nation’s waterways.
He reiterated that smuggling has become a menace to the society and the Command is poised to improve on its anti smuggling performance .
Giving detailed report of the seized illicit drugs, Comptroller Bamisaiye stressed that :”The Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service in its continued efforts to purge the Western Waterways of the offensive activities of smuggling intercepted and seized Seventeen (17) Sacks containing One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven (1,257) loaves of Cannabis Sativa with a combined weight of 720kg worth over 96 Million Naira.
“At about 2300hrs on Wednesday 15 May 2024, a patrol team of Officers and Men of WMC at the Bar beach station of the Command received credible intelligence on movement of a boat on the high sea along the beach location carrying items suspected to be offending items.
Upon receiving the information the team moved towards the described location and intercepted one fiber boat fitted with 200HP Yamaha Engine carrying sacks of the suspected items.
“In a related development on Sunday 19 May 2024 a joint team of Officers and Men of the Command while on routine patrol along Panko Creek, Badagry Waterways, intercepted one wooden boat fitted with a 25HP Yamaha engine carrying suspected contraband items and upon sighting our patrol Boats abandoned their Boat and dived into the water.
“A careful examination of the items being conveyed revealed Five Hundred and Five (505) Bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice having a combined DPV of Fifty Nine Million, One Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira (N59, 185,000.00) of both items and Means of Conveyance.
The actions of these smugglers is a direct contravention of sections 245 and 254 of NCS Act 2023 which WMC is responsible for enforcing.
“In the spirit of interagency synergy and collaboration in line with the Comptroller General’s (CGC) policy thrust, the Western Marine Command (WMC) under my leadership has received approval to handover Seventeen (17) sacks containing One thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven (1,257) loaves of Cannabis Sativa which includes Seventy Two (72) loaves that were previously seized by the Command with a combined weight of 609kg worth over 96 Million Naira to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
While appreciating the CGC and Management of NCS for the motivation they provide, the WMC boss appealed to the general and trading public not to engage in illicit drugs. “And to stop smuggling which lead to economic sabotage as drugs continue to be a menace to society and serves as the source of other criminal acts, like banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery.
“Western Marine Command is poised more than ever to improve on this performance in the years ahead,” he said.
On his part, Bashir Magaji, acting Commander Narcotics, Marine Command, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) commended the service for the fight against smuggling.
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