The anti-smuggling arm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) commonly referred to as the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) in charge of the South west Region has redefined its operational strategies under its new Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Kola Oladeji which results in dire negative consequences on the activities of die-hard smugglers terrorizing the section of the country
By Innocent Chukwu
Comptroller Kola Oladeji is on the verge of breaking an uncommon record that would confer on him the title of the best Customs Area Controller (CAC) to have headed the Customs Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Lagos which wages the war against smuggling and economic sabotage in the South west Zone. Within the first two months of his leadership of the most influential anti -smuggling wing of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Oladeji said he has deployed hard-to-decode strategies to combat smuggling activities which have put confusion in the camps of the economic saboteurs, resulting in numerous unprecedented seizures.
Having rejiged the structures he met on ground to align with his anti-smuggling tactics, the outcome of his reforms has, so far, remained magical, indicating that he is effectively on the way to outperform his predecessors. And, there are indications to this assertion. According to Comptroller Oladeji, “Within the first month of my being here, I have done a rejig to raise our level of efficiency to tighten the noose against smugglers in the South west. Our reinvigorated intelligence-backed patrols are better stationed with high morale monitoring movements at the borders and all highways under our areas of responsibility”.
Comptroller Oladeji is not a man of mere rhetorical brag, he practically matches his words with commensurate action. Thus, on Thursday, July 18, 2024, the sight of the 32 units of exotic cars and 1,500 pieces of bullet proof jackets which the Command under his watch apprehended from die-hard smugglers within the month of June 2024, set tongues wagging. At the event of showcasing the Command’s concrete evidence of performance in the month of June 2024, Comptroller Oladeji said security of the country remains the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy.
The Customs Area Controller said, “Security is the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy which underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to achieve self-sustaining growth that would enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
“In furtherance of the Federal Government’s resolve to achieve this commitment, our dedicated officers executed a series of operations that resulted in the interception and seizure of 1,500 pieces of bullet proof jackets, 989kg of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 5,229 cartons of expired drugs at various times and locations within the South west”.
Cautioning the citizens against the danger of importation of illicit drugs and military wares, Comptroller Oladeji said, “You could recall that security and medical experts reported that people who take illicit drugs can lead to mental health cases and are most often motivated for wrong reasons, where extreme motivation could lead to loss of conscience that aids the commission of crimes. The intake of expired drugs can have serious health consequences on the kidney and liver, inclusive of the development of allergies.
“Worthy of note is that under Schedule 4 of the Customs Common External Tariff (CET), the importation of all kinds of military wares by individuals is under ‘absolute prohibition’. An End-User Certificate (EUC) is required for importation of controlled items and products into Nigeria.
“An EUC is an undertaking by a purchaser or importer that any of the controlled items and products will be for lawful use within Nigeria, and must not be transferred or re-exported to any other entity or country without prior written notice of the issuing authority”.
Other seizures made by FOU Zone A in the month of June included 343,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 7,150 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, 120 bags of sugar of 50kg each, as well as 3,560 cartons of foreign poultry products. In connection with these seizures were four identifiable suspects who were apprehended by the officers of the Command for violating import and export guidelines, concealment of cargo, wrong classification, smuggling and contravening policy directions. The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizures was put at N3,636,594,600.
In the area of revenue generation, though the FOU is not a core revenue generating arm of the NCS, Comptroller Oladeji said through thorough documentary checks and the issuance of Debit Note (DN) on cargoes that paid less than appropriate customs duties, the Command was able to collect a revenue of over N62 million in the month of June.
Comptroller Oladeji disclosed that the Command could have arrested more suspects, but he said he warned officers under him not to fire a shot at smugglers to avoid casualties. He said he was not in the Command to tolerate shedding of blood in any form in course of duty, but to make sure that smuggling activities are reduced through the continuous apprehension of the smuggled items.
“Our efforts are seamless, none of my officers has fired a shot because we count their bullets”, he revealed.
The CAC said further that smuggling activities are reducing arithmetically but not geometrically because smugglers are still carrying out their nefarious activities. However, he insisted that his mission to the Command was to make sure that smuggling activities in the South west are brought down to barest minimum.
He hinted that many drivers and suspects would run away on sighting customs patrol vehicles, thus making it not easy to apprehend them. He said the easiest way to arrest fleeing suspects would be to fire at them, adding that, “but we don’t want casualties. I told officers not to fire anybody, but to arrest what they carry. That is the best way to discourage them”.
He hinted that the NCS and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are working in collaboration to review vehicles registration processes to stem the rate of vehicles smuggling.
During his first month in office in May 2024, the FOU Zone A made 203 seizures with cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2.2 billion, and revenue collection of N81.8 million.
Oladeji warned: “This is just the beginning of tougher days for smugglers who try to defy our laws by bringing prohibited items into the country or attempting to underpay to government, thereby undermining the Nigeria Customs Service’s drive for maximum revenue collection”.
