Customs : Bleak Yuletide For Smugglers And Their Sponsors In Ogun State

By Stephen Ubbana

Not many were surprised when information filtered out last June that Compt. James Ojo, the immediate past Area Controller of Ogun I, Command, Idiroko, Ogun, former President Olusegun Obasanjo home state, who was in a hurry to go.

 This is because he had reached his retirement age in the service and was impressed   with the appointment of Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs and Coordinator of the defunct , Joint Border Patrol, Sector II, Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve centre, described in Customs circles as a guru in anti-smuggling operations by Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs to replace him.

Recall that on assumption of duties on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the Customs Deputy Comptroller, was said to have promised ‘’to uphold the core mandate of trade facilitation and border security to effectively checkmate the activities of the smugglers, who had taken advantage of the over 90 illegal border routes in the state to cris-cross between Nigeria and Republic of Benin to carry out their nefarious activities.

Ogun I, Command intercepted and seized vehicles used in smuggling foreign rice in Ogun state

The Customs Deputy Comptroller, had said that that the Ogun I, Command under his Leadership   will never’’ compromise on standard’’, but do everything within its powers ‘’to balance enforcement with trade facilitation’’. True to his words, barely two weeks in office, the former defunct Joint Border Patrol, sector II, Coordinator, Lagos zonal office, appears to have sent a message to the smugglers and their sponsors in the south western state of Ogun that’’ it is no longer going to business as usual’’.

Driven by Professionalism, integrity and Commitment to curbing smuggling in the state with the support of the Customs Comptroller General who was said to have provided the Command with all the necessary working tools and Operational vehicles, to storm difficult terrains was instrumental in helping the patrol teams to dispossess the economic saboteurs of their smuggled goods hidden in the forest.

The Command interception and seizure of  2,169 bags of the Asian countries of Thailand and Indian Agricultural par boiled rice, 50Kg, each, 1,128 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, popular, Indian Hemp, produced from the neighbouring West African country of Ghana, weighing 1,109 Kg, and 21 bales and two sacks of second- hand clothing is a clear  evidence of the Command intensified anti-smuggling operations in recent times.

Ogun I, Command seized parcels of Cannabis sativa

This is in addition to the seizure of   166 pieces of pneumatic tyres, 4,360 cartons of imported shoes, 250 jerrycans , 25 litres each, loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, or petrol, in local parlance, and the seizure of 20 units of vehicles used as a means of conveyance of the smuggled foreign rice and one 2015, High Lander , which many had described as bad omen for the Ogun state based smugglers.  Valuation experts had put the worth of the seized items at N87.03 million.

The Ogun I, Command, Idiroko, acting Area Controller, may have shocked Nigerians when he revealed that the Contraband and goods and Jerrycans of PMS, seizures     were made at strategic locations in the Border Communities of Idiroko,  Ilaro, Alamal- Rounda axis, Obada Oko-Abeokuta axis and Imeko-Afon axis, described in Customs circles as  ‘’smuggling hotspots in Ogun state’’ and the entire south western geopolitical region in general.

In making the Contraband seizures including the Jerrycans of 25 litres each of PMS, in less than two weeks of prosecuting anti-smuggling operations in the former President Obasanjo home state, DC. Shuaibu, had said that he had given  DC. Yusuf,  overseeing the Command Enforcement unit and the officer in-charge of Operations, Special Assignments which they were said to have carried to its logical conclusion.

 The Customs acting Controller had said that most of the intercepted and seized  Contraband goods and their means of Conveyance were made at night.  He had confirmed that the smugglers on sighting the Command Patrol team officers approaching their hideout had jumped into the bush to escape arrest, giving the officers the audacity to transfer the abandoned vehicles loaded with foreign rice and other items to the Command premises at Idiroko, headquarters of Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

The former defunct Joint Border Patrol, sector II, Lagos, Coordinator, may have sent a message to the smugglers that they will continue to be at the losing end because his officers ‘’remain resolute   in dismantling their smuggling networks that had continued to undermine the nation’s economy, endanger lives and hinder local industries’’.

DC. Shuaibu had that said that the Command Patrol team officers and those at the checkpoints in different parts of the state including Ijebu Ode, had successfully checkmated the illegal importation   of foreign rice, into the country, through Ogun state as’’ it poses a threat to local rice production, and undermines President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency in the country’’.

The anti-smuggling Czar, who was said to have repeatedly told those that cares to listen that’ ‘’smuggling of foreign rice into the country is an economic sabotage, had vowed that the Ogun I, Command, under his Leadership ‘’ will not relent in bringing the smugglers caught in the act to Justice’’.

The acting Comptroller’s major worry was that smuggling of Cannabis sativa, particular, into the country by these unrepentant smugglers have had more serious implications for the economy as’’ it destroys lives, fuels criminal activities and jeopardizes the   safety and security of Border Communities’’.

An insider told The Value News that the acting Ogun I, Command Area Controller, has made it a point of duty’’ to Collaborate with the Department of State Security, DSS and the Ogun state Police Command, under the close watch of, Olarenwaju Ogunlowo, and other security agencies personnel in the state’’ to rid the state of the menace of the smuggling activities.

Appealing to the unrepentant smugglers, shuttling between Nigeria and Benin Republic to carry out their nefarious activities that undermines the economy to turn a leaf, DC. Shuaibu, was said to have sounded it loud and clear, that ‘’the Command is prepared to match their activities with superior intelligence, unwavering Commitment and use of force if necessary’’ to clip their wings.

He was emphatic that they must ‘’desist from their illegal activities or face the weight of the law’’. He may have gladdened the heart of genuine traders who fears that that they may fall victim to the Command patrol teams in the intensified anti-smuggling war when he assured then that they have cause to worry as ‘’their operations are only targeted at those who contravene the Federal Government fiscal policy’’.

He had said that the Command will continue ‘’to maintain an open-door policy, work with local Communities and encourage legitimate trade that fosters economic development’’. He may have alluded to the support of the Customs Comptroller General which was said to have rubbed off on the patrol team officers as they remain ‘’vigilant , disciplined  and committed to the task at hand: anti-smuggling operations.      

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *