In line with renewed marine surveillance, the Western Marine Command (WMC), of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted 66 jerry-cans of petroleum products smuggled through the creeks.
Within the period under review, the Command also recorded massive seizures of foreign rice brought into the country through the waterways.
The new Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Sarkin-Kebbi Mustapha, said the items were estimated at the duty paid value of N11.6million, stressing that they have expanded their operations to the creeks, in order to curb nefarious activities of economic saboteurs.
According to him, “The feat achieved within the first 30days under my watch as the CAC did not come without challenges, which the management is doing its best to address. The media should partner with the Command to showcase the negative activities of smugglers, so as to safeguard our economy and the country from nefarious activities of organised- crime syndicate.”
Mustapha further assured regular patrol of the creeks so as to deter further operations of the illicit trade and sabotage of the economy.
