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Tag: smugglers

  • Suspected smugglers hack Ogun customs officer during ambush

    Suspected smugglers hack Ogun customs officer during ambush

    A customs officer, Musa Muhammed Maigari is in a critical condition at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, after he was attacked with machetes by suspected smugglers during an ambush in Idogo area of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    According to the spokesman of Ogun State Customs Command, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, the ambush happened around the Igbeji River in the Idogo-Ifoyintedo axis during a joint operation by men of the Command and operatives of the Federal Operations Unit ‘A’ in pursuit of car smugglers.

    Maigari who suffered deep machete cuts on his left arm was first taken to the Idiroko General Hospital from where he was transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Yaba, Lagos, where doctors are battling to save his life.

    The Nation gathered that a smuggled Toyota Highlander was however intercepted by the Customs team during the operation.

    In a statement, Maiwada said:” On Wednesday February 7, at about 8 am and-9 am, a joint patrol team of Crack Squad and FOU ‘A’led by CSC Abdullahi. M; Ogbonna A.E; Musa T; Habu .I; Musa.M.M; C.A Ahmed and others went on information patrol . In the process, ambush was laid at Ibeji River around Idogo-Ifoyintedo axis of the Command. This led to successful interception of a Toyota Highlander with chasis number: STDJKRFHESO59484.

    ”An officer Musa Miagari of FOU ‘A’ sustained a life-threatening injury (having been butchered with a machete) from the suspected armed smugglers. The officer was taken to Idiroko Gneral Hospital for preliminary treatment and has since been transferred to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Lagos, for in-depth treatment. The team managed to escape from the scene and brought the said vehicle to sentry at Idiroko for custody and further investigation.

  • Armed smugglers butcher Customs operative in Ogun

    Armed smugglers butcher Customs operative in Ogun

    An Operative of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Muhammed Maigari, has escaped being killed by armed smugglers but not without inflicting life threatening injury on him.

    The Nation gathered that Muhammed Maigari was assaulted at Ibeji River around Idogo-Ifoyintedo axis in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state, by smugglers who almost severed one of his hand following deep cut inflicted on him.

    It was learnt that the Operative attached to the Federal Operations Unit but posted to the  Idiroko border area, was said to have been beaten thoroughly last Wednesday while on patrol with colleagues.

    Maigari and his colleagues were said to be responding to an intelligence report that some smugglers were coming with a smuggled Toyota highlander toward the Ibeji River but a fierce battle ensued when the Operatives ran into the smugglers.

    In the ensuing fight, the armed smugglers attempted to disarm Maigari but when he resisted it, they cut his left upper arm and left it with a deep gash.

    The Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Ogun Area Command, Abdullahi Maiwada, who confirmed the attack, said though the vehicle was intercepted but the smugglers harmed the operatives.

    According to him, the smugglers attempted to disarm Maigara and slash his head with the machete but he blocked it with his arm, which resulted in the life-threatening cut on his left upper arm.

    “One of our operatives was savagely attacked with a machete on Wednesday at Ibeji River around Idogo-Ifoyintedo axis in Idiroko.

    “The cut was life- threatening. The smugglers were armed and they confronted our operatives. But since we did not want any loss of lives, our operatives successfully intercepted the Toyota highlander being smuggled through the forest.

    “It is currently in the command’s custody at sentry, Idiroko border. The command will not relent in curbing smuggling activities around Idiroko border and Ogun State as a whole,” he said.

    He said Maigari was first taken to the General Hospital, Idiroko, for treatment, later moved to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos for comprehensive treatment.

  • Four suspected smugglers held in Akwa Ibom

    The Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Akwa Ibom State has arrested four suspected smugglers. It seized boats and outboard engines used in illegal bunkering and smuggling of goods into Nigeria.

    The Commanding Officer, FOB, Captain Yusuf Idris, spoke to reporters yesterday.

    Idris added that on Saturday his men seized 62 drums of automotive gas oil, which were being moved in a wooden boat from Rivers into Akwa Ibom waterway, about 5:30 am.

    According to him, four suspected hoodlums; Nsidebe Monday, 26; David Etim, 31; Oto Bassey, 29, and Benjamin Abia, 40, were apprehended for the illegal bunkering of AGO.

    The commanding officer said the Navy would not relent till the waterways were  rid of criminals.

    He added that his operating base has continued to  live up to expectation by the arrests and seizures its officers  made in one week.

    “If you can remember, on Tuesday and Friday, we handed over smuggled bags of rice to the Nigerian Customs Service.

    “And during that handling over, I made a promise that the Nigerian Navy under the present leadership will not relent till our waterway is rid of all illegality.

    “I’m sure we have lived up to our promise because this week alone, we had made three arrests.  We will continue to make more arrests and seizure as long as the  criminals are not willing to stop their illegal activities,” he said.

    He said that the operating base on Friday seized 271 bags of illegally imported rice from Cameroon during a routine sea patrol at Parrot Island in Mbo LGA, about 5:30 am.

    The commander handed over the products and the suspects to the Comptroller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Ajiya Masaya and to the Divisional Officer in charge of Mbo Division, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr James Udeme.

    Idris assured Nigerians that the Navy would follow up the matter until justice is done.

    He said: “I urge you to please take these products and make sure that you follow up for further investigation and possibly prosecution as the Nigerian Navy after handing over will continue to follow up all the cases.

    “We will follow up not only this one that we have handed over to you but also those handed iver to other agencies.

    “We will continue to follow up to ensure that justice is done to the Nigerian state so that the country will get to the level of the economic prosperity which she is destined to have.”

    Mr Majiya Masaya, of the Nigeria Customs Service  thanked the Navy for cooperating with the Customs to curb smuggling.

    He appealed to Nigerians to help expose smugglers by giving information to security agencies.

    “Precisely four days ago, we were here to take delivery of 759 bags of rice recovered from smugglers. Now we have taken delivery of another 271 bags of rice.

    “We have often said that curbing smuggling is not always the duty of customs alone; our sister security agencies can also help us.

    “Stop smuggling, engage in legitimate business; if you don’t know it, approach any customs formation, it is our own duty to educate you.

    “We have what is called trade facilitation. Come to our office, we will advise you on what to import and what not to import,” he said.

    One of the suspects, Nsidebe Monday, told reporters that  they arrived Akwa Ibom from Ifoko in Rivers, where they bought the product at N7,000 per drum.

    He said on their way back to Calabar, the Navy in Akwa Ibom arrested them.

  • One shot dead in Customs, ‘smugglers’ row

    One shot dead in Customs, ‘smugglers’ row

    A passenger, Toheeb Olayiwola, was killed  yesterday during a chase of some suspected rice smugglers by some Customs officers.

    Two others were injured in the incident which happened at Abule-Egba on the Lagos – Abeokiuta Expressway.

    Witnesses said operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) were on the trail of the LT bus suspected to be conveying smuggled rice.

    The FOU oversees Customs operations in Lagos and Ogun states.

    The Customs men chased the   bus from Sango-Ota  in  Ogun State to Abule-Egba, Lagos.

    Traffic stood still, with people scampering to safety as guns boomed.

    Some witnesses told our correspondent that the late Olayiwola was a passenger and not a smuggler.

    One of the passengers, Yemi Saheed, said: “The vehicle is a commercial bus and we were coming from Sango-Ota and the driver of the bus stopped when he noticed the Customs vans trailing the bus. While we were still inside the bus, the driver alighted to inquire why he was being followed and about six Customs men that alighted from their vans surrounded our bus and shot indiscriminately killing the boy (Olayiwola), who was also a passenger.”

    The  driver, Ajayi Olayinka, said he was conveying the rice to Agege for the owner.

    He said: “I am not a smuggler and I don’t ply the Idiroko border route. I ply Sango-Agege route every day and I am used to carrying goods including foodstuff for traders and passengers who purchased them at Sango Market. I had just five passengers and about 10 bags of rice which a trader asked me to convey to Agege. Suddenly, I noticed that some Customs men riding in two operational vehicles were following me and I stopped at Abule-Egba to inquire from them why they were trailing me unnecessarily.

    ‘’Two of the Customs men blocked my vehicle and demanded to know what I was having in the bus and I told them that I was conveying 10 bags of rice for a passenger.  As I was trying to explain further, their colleagues came down from their vans and shot indiscriminately at my bus knowing full well that there were passengers inside the vehicle. In the process, three passengers were hit while they beat me with the butt of their rifles. Unfortunately, one of the passengers, a boy, who was shot in the head died instantly while two others who sustained gunshot injuries have been taken to a General Hospital. And knowing the consequences of what they did, the Customs men immediately shot into the air and escaped from the scene.

    The late Olayiwola’s brother, who identified himself as Muyideen at the scene, said the deceased’s widow was delivered of a  baby last Saturday.

    The body has been deposited at the Ikeja General Hospital morgue.

    The incident sparked public outrage, but Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives promptly moved in to douse tension.

    In a statement yesterday,  FOU’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jerry Attah,  said the Customs operatives were attacked by  suspected smugglers, who attempted   to resist arrest.

    He said a bus with unspecified bags of rice was being trailed by the Customs men  when the smugglers resorted to confrontation.

    He said no one was killed in the clash.

    The statement reads : ‘’  On January 17 (yesterday), at about 05:30am, operatives of the FOU, acting on a tip-off, traced one LT bus loaded with unspecified bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice from Sango area and eventually stopped it at Abule-Egba.

    ‘’Before he was finally halted at Abule-Egba, the driver started shouting and making inciting comments that attracted mob action against the officers with different dangerous weapons such as broken bottles, stones and cutlasses. Obviously, he had driven to where he could get his associates to help attack the Customs officers.

    ‘’Given support of the mob, he resisted lawful arrest and the other armed operatives fired shots in the air to disperse the raging mob but to no avail. As a responsible organisation, the officers retreated to avoid any casualty.  We appreciate and thank God that no life was lost as at the time of the confrontation even though two of our officers sustained injuries.

    ‘’For the avoidance of doubt, the fact that a smuggler has evaded scrutiny either by following unapproved route or compromising any officer does not guarantee that the smuggled item will not be seized anywhere it is found by patrol officers whose duty is to ensure compliance.’’

    Lagos Police spokesman, Mr. Chike Oti, a Superintendent (SP),  said: ‘’What happened was that some unidentified operatives of Customs Federal Operations Unit allegedly chased suspected smugglers around Abule-Egba area and allegedly opened fire on the vehicle thereby killing one of the people inside the bus by name Toheeb Olayiwola.

    ‘’ The body of the victim has been taken to the mortuary by an ambulance attached to the Lagos State Task Force, Alausa, Ikeja.’’

    The FOU Controller,  Mohammed Uba,  urged people to verify their facts before reacting to any development.

  • Stop cashew smugglers, traders urge Customs, others

    The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has raised the alarm over the invasion of the cashew nuts business by some unscrupulous businessmen and smugglers.

    The association, therefore, urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to stop smugglers of the product, noting that their activities were making the business difficult for traders and depriving the country of huge revenue.

    Investigations revealed that over 50 per cent of cashew nuts produced in the country were being smuggled through Kwara, Oyo and Ogun states to Benin, Ghana and Mali, from where the nuts are exported to India and Vietnam.

    A member of the group, Mr. Ajayi Emmanuel, said Benin Republic, Ghana, Gabon and Cote d’Ivoire had become major markets where the crop fetches a premium in the international market for smugglers.

    He alleged that the merchants receiving the smuggled commodity were branding Nigerian cashew as their own, adding that the illegal trend had weakened the nation’s export.

    “Based on the activities of smugglers, the country lacks adequate tonnage of cashew going out through the land borders and because of the illegal trade, Nigeria has been losing huge sums of revenue. There is high concentration of smuggling of the product at the porous borders in Ogun, Oyo and Kwara states.

    “The volume of the smuggled product is larger than those passing through the seaports legitimately,” Emmanuel lamented.

    Noting that this had affected the price structure of the commodity, he urged Customs in collaboration with other security agencies to intervene and block all the loopholes.

    The exporter insisted that the Federal Government should ban the smuggling of the product. He also asked the NCS and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to enforce the law in order to create jobs.

  • Customs seizes 3,309 bags of rice from smugglers in Katsina

    Customs seizes 3,309 bags of rice from smugglers in Katsina

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, said it had seized no fewer than 3,309 bags of foreign rice from smugglers in November 2017.

    Its Comptroller, Alhaji Usman Dakingari, disclosed this on Friday in Katsina while briefing newsmen on the activities of the unit.

    He said that the unit also seized 209 cartons of spaghetti, 181 bags of sugar and 461 jerry cans of vegetable oil.

    He said other items seized included 79 cartons of mosquito coil, 157 bales of second-hand clothes and six vehicles pointing out that all the seized items have Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N652.9 million.

    He said that the items were seized from smugglers in Katsina and other states under the jurisdiction of the unit during the period under review.

    ‘’We will continue to ensure that foreign rice and other prohibited commodities are not smuggled into the country,’’ he said.

    Dakingari however expressed concern over the attitude of some people at border communities that engaged in the illegal smuggling activities as means of their livelihood.

    ‘’If you tell them that smuggling is bad they will tell you that what business do you want them to do or this is something they have inherited,’’ he said.

    He, therefore, stressed the need for other stakeholders to intensify efforts toward enlightening the border communities on the dangers associated with smuggling on the nation’s economy and health of the people.

    Read Also: Customs seizes harmful contraband in Ibadan

  • Ogun customs intercepts N70 million car from smugglers

    Operatives of Ogun Customs Area Command have intercepted a brand new 2017 Porsche car from suspected smugglers in Abeokuta, the State capital.

    The spokesman of the Command, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada said the car was being conveyed through the bush paths in Ijoun community, Yewa North Local Government Area, when vigilant operatives of the Command sighted them and pursued the smugglers till they abandoned the car and fled.

    He said: ‘’The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the car is over N70 million. The culprits ran away and abandoned the car, after our men gave them a chase inside the bush.

    “ We have since moved the car to our Abeokuta officer for proper safe keeping. The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Sani Madugu has warned those involved in smuggling activities to desist from the nefarious business in their own interest.

    ‘’Madugu said the Command will continue to smoke out and arrest smugglers wherever they are hiding in the State, without minding whose ox is gored.’’

  • Smugglers flee as customs intercept N37m fish, cars from Ogun creeks

    Smugglers flee as customs intercept N37m fish, cars from Ogun creeks

    TEN of Ogun Customs Area Command have intercepted two buses loaded with 720 cartons of frozen croaker fish and three exotic cars from smugglers, who fled on sighting customs officers in Ipokia creeks. Speaking during a press briefing held at the Idiroko Area Customs Command, Customs Area Controller of Ogun State, Sani Madugu, said the command will no longer make the state safe for smugglers, whom he noted had taken their nefarious trade to the creeks in order to evade arrest. He said: ‘’Pursuant to the Federal Government policy on importation of the aforementioned items, the officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Command, on July 17, 2017, intercepted 721 cartons of imported croaker fish loaded in two J5 buses with registration numbers , AKD 647 XU and KJA 635 XU respectively. ‘’In addition to the above, 480 bags of imported rice of 50 kg each were intercepted along the creeks in Ipokia Local Government Area. Also, Mercedes Benz (2015 model 550) with registration number, JJJ 83 BM; Toyota Corolla 2009 model and a Volvo truck were intercepted.

    The goods in summary have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N37, 246,847.’’ Madugu explained that the command’s operatives had been cautioned on the use of fire arm in public when arresting fleeing smugglers. ‘’We have been training and retraining our officers on the use of fire arm. We have also cautioned them not to open fire where there are people especially in public places, so innocent people won’t fall casualty. He noted that smugglers now use the creeks to ferry contrabands in order to avoid the prying eyes of his men saying: ‘’They have started using small boats to ferry rice and other goods through the creeks. However, the creeks will soon become unsafe for them to operate, because we are prepared more than ever before to take the battle to them whether on land or creeks.’

    ‘’We are currently engaging all stakeholders in the fight against smuggling activities. Although, the smugglers are now monitoring us by paying people to spy on our operations, so as to evade arrest, but some traditional rulers have been cooperating with us and we are ready to partner with all stakeholders and law abiding citizens in our resolve to collect maximum revenue for the betterment of all and to reduce smuggling to its barest minimum.’’

  • Ali: smugglers import arms, ammunition via land borders

    Ali: smugglers import arms, ammunition via land borders

    • Customs eyes N900b revenue

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it decided to ban vehicle importation through land borders because it discovered that unscrupulous elements were using it as a decoy to flood the country with arms and ammunition.

    Its Comptroller-General, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) who spoke  in Abuja during this year’s International Customs Day with: Data Analysis for Effective Border Management as its theme, said the ban would help boost the economy.

    He said Customes  hopes to generate between N700billion and N900 billion as revenue for the Federal Government this year.

    Ali said the service generated N898 billion from the N937 billion target set for last year.

    He said: “We are looking at between N700 billion and N900 billion. The budget has not been finalised. Until the budget is finalised, we will get the final approval. We never had N1trillion, it was N937 billion. We got N898 billion.

    “We are a little bit short but if you appreciate the trading volume, you will know that the NCS has done extremely well.”

    Speaking further on the ban, he said it would help tighten the security of the country.

    “I think it is (the ban on vehicles through land borders) is coming up very well; we are about 26 days into it; it always takes time to have these things really driven into our stakeholders.

    “The actual fact is that we want to boost the economy of this nation. We want to bring back those money that is been exported back to this country.

    “We want to tighten the security of this country because we have discovered through the importation of these cars through the borders where most of them are smuggled, arms and ammunition are being squeezed into these cars and driven into this nation,” he said.

  • Smugglers groan

    The seizure of N4.7b worth of contraband by Customs personnel last year left smugglers in agony in the Southeast and the Southsouth, though the feat has not stopped the criminals. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    They lost billions of naira as thousands of their illicit containers were seized last year by Customs personnel. It was a telling blow, but they are like resilient viruses, difficult to wipe out. That was the fate of smugglers in the Southeast and Southsouth who lost thousands of containers of smuggled goods as officials of the Nigeria Customs Service swooped on them last year. The clampdown was led by the Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba.

    Last year alone, 307 containers of contraband worth N4,756, 277,885 were seized in the zone.

    The figure is unprecedented, although the feat has not totally eradicated smuggling in the area. Smuggling still goes on, but the clampdown hurt the perpetrators badly.

    According to the Public Relations Officer in charge of the zone, Onuigbo Ifeoma, the figure is a combination of both the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3,985,931,643 and an underpayment of N770,346,242, which was recovered as revenue.

    The Controller who made this known while giving an annual report for the year 2016, said that the Unit which he said has since driven many smugglers out of their illicit business as a result of its sustained onslaught against smuggling, also arrested a total of 234 suspects with 24 cases still pending in court.

    Mohammed gave a breakdown of the seized contraband as: 169 motor vehicles with a DPV of N1,013,005,101.21; 2,725 cartons of narcotics (Indian hemp/hard drugs) with a DPV of N366,835,000.00 and 1,759 pairs, 85 cartons and 68 sacks/bales of foot wears  with a DPV of N28,234,060.00.

    Others were, 7,795 soap/detergents/toiletries with a DPV of N58,889,181; 107,006 cartons of imported frozen poultry products with a DPV of N1,402,086,836.00; 1,018 pieces and 561 bales of bags/suitcases which had a DPV of N134,964,320.00 in addition to 5,794 rethread and used pneumatic tyres bearing with a DPV of N97,597,620.00.

    Also seized were 50 cartons and 147 pieces of beverages/confectionary/juices with a DPV of N3,248,570.00; 14,006 bags of rice which has a DPV of N447,850,240.00; 2,333 cartons and 1,598 pieces of furniture and parts thereof with a DPV of N173,048,334.00 and 273 cartons of 2 litres of vegetable oil with a DPV of N9,801,000.00.

    The Unit also seized 1,089 pieces of machinery/mechanical appliances/parts which had a DPV of N7, 837,498.00 as well as 2,484 electrical/electronic parts with a DPV of N3, 886,600 and 951 bales, 470 cartons and 18 sacks of other goods with DPV of N239, 441,283.00 as among other seizures made within the year.

    He disclosed that “the figure was in contrast to the total seizure made in the preceding year (2015) which stood at a total sum of N2, 839,404,837 with a DPV of N2, 709,807,437.00 and an underpayment recovered to the tune of N129, 597,400.00”.

    Comptroller Mohammed continued that “the FOU zone ‘C’ would continue to strategize and re-strategize to bring smugglers, their agents and collaborators to their knees”.

    He regretted that the Federal Government “had continued to lose huge revenue as a result of the unpatriotic activities of smugglers who are poised to acquire wealth through the short cut”, warning such individuals “to desist forthwith in their own interest”.

    The Controller therefore advised Nigerians not to use the global economic down turn as an excuse to ruin themselves and their families, stressing that the Nigeria Custom Service “would not entertain any sacred cow in its determination to make smuggling a thing of the past in the country”.

    Mohammed advised youths to always preoccupy themselves with ideas and visions that could assist them realise their potentials “as leaders of tomorrow instead of indulging in acts and conducts capable of impeding their success in life”.

    He advised, “Nigerians who are into genuine and legitimate business of buying and selling not to entertain any fear as the NCS would continue to be guided by the cardinal principle of justice, equity and fairness devoid of victimisation or oppression in the discharge of her duties”.