The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasir Ahmad

  • Kano/Jigawa: Customs impound contraband items worth over N35m

    …Arrest Five Smugglers

    The Kano/Jigawa Customs Area Command on Tuesday impounded 1200 bags of foreign rice, 300 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil, 100 bags of foreign sugar and 200 cartons of foreign spaghetti valued at over N35 million within three weeks of intensive operations.

    Briefing Reporters at the Bompai Headquarters of the Command, the Comptroller in-charge of the Command, Nasir Ahmad said that five suspects were also arrested in connection to the seizures.

    According to him, “we have five suspects arrested so far and they would be prosecuted according the provision of the law. We have our legal department and they are handling it accordingly.”

    Ahmad explained that the seizures were made at various times by the Patrol Team along Daura Road, Katsina Road, Gwarzo Road in Kano, and Babura border in Jigawa state.

    According to him, “we have a total of 1, 200 bags of foreign rice worth N27 million; 300 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil worth over N3.5 million; 100 bags of foreign sugar worth over N2million; 200 cartons of foreign spaghetti worth over N500, 000.

    “We also impounded 14 vehicles used in conveying the smuggled contraband items. Now, what we are trying to say is this, as long as they won’t stop smuggling, we won’t stop seizing them.

    “It is in their own interest to stop smuggling and help the economy of the nation. It is in their own interest to stop smuggling and help the economy of the North, because the North is the major producers of rice, apart from Ebonyi state, other states producing rice are domiciled in the 19 northern states. Now, why are they killing the business?

    Read Also: Court to hear suit against Oyetola on October 24

    “Like I said earlier on, Customs is not here to kill businesses, Customs is here to promote genuine and legitimate trade and that is what we keep doing. If you are in legitimate business, we won’t come after you, we will encourage you and we will be with you; and that is why we have incentives for those that are in genuine businesses and we provide fast-track for them to use.

    “But as long as you want to engage in the act of smuggling, you will never be our friend and we will never be your friend. Now, to those that think they can just come after officers, we will come after you. You cannot kill our officers; you cannot maim our officers and go scot free.

    “Anybody that does that, we will come right after you because this is not a personal job we are doing, this is a Federal Government job, and it is for the promotion of the economy of the nation.”

  • NCS intercepts smuggled rice concealed in petrol tank

    NCS intercepts smuggled rice concealed in petrol tank

    The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), says it has arrested a suspect in Sokoto who allegedly smuggled 460 bags of imported rice concealed in a petrol tank.

    The Comptroller for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Command of NCS, Mr Nasir Ahmad, made the disclosure to newsmen on Friday in Sokoto.

    Ahmad said the smuggled items, which were intercepted along Sokoto-Illela road, had N7.8 million duty paid value.

    He said when the bags of rice were removed from the tank they had been contaminated by black oil, which is dangerous to human health.

    The controller advised smugglers to find alternative legal means of livelihood and stop undermining the nation’s economy.

    He solicited for relevant information from the public to assist the command track down smugglers.

    NAN

  • Customs intercepts smuggled Tramadol drugs worth N4.6m in Sokoto

    Customs intercepts smuggled Tramadol drugs worth N4.6m in Sokoto

    The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) has intercepted 465 packets of smuggled tramadol drugs worth N4.6 million on Sokoto-Illea road in Sokoto state.

    Mr Nasir Ahmad, the Comptroller of Customs in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Command, told newsmen on Thursday in Sokoto, that the consignment were apprehended in three bales and one person was arrested during the raid.

    Ahmad, who handed the items to officials of National Food, Drugs Administration and Control, Sokoto state office, added that each packet consists of ten sachets which was valued at N1000 per sachet.

    He said the drug was being regulated by the authorities due it wide abuse as intoxicant.

    Ahmad said it was sad that some people engage in smuggling the dangerous drug that has destroyed the lives of many in the country.

    “Smugglers conceal it in various forms to perpetrate their illegal businesses. Smuggling such regulated drugs contribute to the rising criminal activities in the country.

    “I want to appeal to the people, especially residents of border communities to assist law enforcement agents with useful information on smuggler movements.

    “Customs is committed on ensuring a smuggle-free society. Smuggling cripples the nation’s economy and subjects peoples’ lives to various forms of danger,’’ he said.

    He recalled that in 2017, the command apprehended high quantity of Marijuana and drugs which were also handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    NAN

  • Smuggling: NCS intercepts 506 bags of foreign rice

    Smuggling: NCS intercepts 506 bags of foreign rice

    Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) said its command in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara zone had intercepted 506 bags of foreign rice concealed in bags of beans smuggled into the country.

    The command’s Controller, Mr Nasir Ahmad, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Sokoto, and said that the seized consignment had payable duty value of N12.5 million.

    Ahmad said that the items were intercepted on Friday officers of the command on patrol along Sokoto-Illela road.

    He said that the command had competent intelligent officers, investigating specialised activities.

    The controller explained that smugglers deployed different tactics in perpetrating their illegal businesses and reassured the public of the command’s readiness to confront smuggling and enforce government regulations.

    He called on people residing in border communities to assist Customs authorities with useful information to combat smuggling of goods into the country.

    “The present case is different as smugglers packaged two bags of rice in bigger beans bag disguising that they were conveying beans in the truck,” Ahmad said.

    According to him, smugglers are using various structures, including residential buildings, to store smuggled items in peace-meal before uploading to a truck.

    Ahmad said smuggling was crippling the nation’s economy as it deprived it of revenue, crippled industrial growth, endangered population and employment.

    He commended Comptroller-General and officers of the Service for supporting anti-smuggling and revenue generation drive of the present administration.

    NAN