As part of its anti-smuggling activities, Ogun I Customs Command has seized 1,309 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 1,596 pieces of tokunbo tyres among other contraband items intercepted within the last three weeks.
The Customs Area Controller, Ogun 1 Custom Command, Comptroller James Ojo, on Thursday disclosed this during a press conference at the Command.
Comptroller Ojo, who took over leadership reigns at the Command 23 days ago, explained that the seized parcels of cannabis sativa were concealed in 90 sacks in a consignment that originated from Ghana.
Ojo also disclosed that the Command seized 103 items within his short stint as helmsmen of the Command, with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N380, 370,911.
Aside the cannabis and the pneumatic tyres, other items seized at various locations across Ogun State, include 2, 922 bags (50kg) of foreign parboiled rice, 32 bales of used clothing, 1,603 cartons of frozen products and 22,600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), among others.
While lamenting the rise in the abuse of cannabis sativa in Nigeria, especially among the youths, he said the menace is a big threat to the nation’s security, given its potential influence on criminal activities including; armed robbery, banditry, cultism, kidnapping among others.
He, however, pledged that the Command will continue to ensure that the substance is not allowed to find its way into the country as smuggling attempts will be truncated.
“These tyres are deemed unsuitable for our highways because, significant numbers of them have exceeded their recommended lifespan from their manufacturing dates”, adding that safety experts’ findings revealed that “good-quality tyres are safe for use for only four years from the date of manufacturing. Any usage beyond this duration poses a significant risk to motorists and put their lives in jeopardy,” he remarked.
Controller Ojo equally asserted that smuggling of rice into the country is a negative effort to sabotage the economic effort on local production of rice, noting that such act will jeopardise the economic growth and development of the country.
Meanwhile, the Command within 23 days generated N14,628,661 as revenue through baggage assessment and auction sales of petroleum products.
The Customs boss decried the nonimpressive state of trading activities across Idiroko border, noting that it not encouraging due to some peculiar challenges that traders are facing.
