The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported an increase in revenue collection by 272 percent to N2.634 billion between January and May 2024 as against the figures of the same period in the 2023 operational year.
Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Seme Krake Joint Border Post, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, disclosed this on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, while speaking with maritime journalists at a media briefing on the activities of the Command from January to May 2024.
He said: “In compliance with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs that Commands give periodic reports of their activities to members of the public, and in the spirit of open governance, we at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post are delighted to present the successes recorded thus far this year.
“The Command has continued to sustain the tempo in revenue generation. In the period under review, we collected N2.634 billion, thereby surpassing the 2023 figures for the same period by over 272 percent.”
On export, he explained that the Command facilitated 143, 468 metric tons of export produce, with a Free on Board (FoB) value of ₦35.199 billion, an equivalent of $38.461 million, while the NESS value paid amounted to ₦174. 518 million and a total of 406 SGDs were used from January to May 26, 2024 for exports.
Bomodi further stated that the Command sustained its anti-smuggling activities in all nooks and crannies of the Command, which culminated into the onslaught and seizures of 474 various contraband items within the period under review.
The items include: 12,448 jerry cans x 30 liters each of petrol, which is equivalent to eight tanker loads and 6, 467 bags of 50kg rice or an equivalent of 10 trailer loads and 15 different models of fairly used vehicles.
Others are 1, 251 parcels of cannabis sativa; 20 live parrots, two honey badgers, two Pelican birds and 404 live tortoises; 3, 023 general merchandise; 149 packages of Codeine and 45 pieces of used tyres all with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦840 million.
“We note that there has been a marked increase in the illegal importation of Cannabis from Ghana and different methods have been used by criminals in their effort to beat our officers, all of which has been neutralized,” he stated.
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Bomodi also disclosed that 18 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, while 11 of them were granted administrative bail, three were handed over to NDLEA for further agency action and one was handed over to the Nigerian Police Force, while four suspects are still in custody.
He also said the Command recently arrested a notorious smuggler whose reign of terror in the area has come to an end and will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“The Command has also set-up a complaint desk to address issues concerning the molestation of females on this corridor. We strongly frown on any act endangering the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of border stake-holders who go about their normal and legitimate businesses daily.
“Stringent action shall be taken against any officer of any agency found guilty of molestation of any females on this corridor.
“Lastly we appreciate the support and cooperation of other government agencies in ensuring the peace, safety and security of our borders, especially the men and officers of the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in this battle.
“We appreciate their unwavering support which has been crucial to our operations and success and we applaud their patriotic effort.
