Seme Customs Posts Remarkable Achievements,Collects N1.160bn, Arrests 13 Suspects In Two Months

Seme Customs Posts Remarkable Achievements,Collects N1.160bn, Arrests 13 Suspects In Two Months
……….makes seizures with a combined DPV of N365,888,696.00

By Frank Odinukaeze

The Seme Customs Command of the Nigerian Customs Service  has posted  remarkable achievements ,within two months, as the command collected N1.160 billion revenue, arrested 13 Suspects, and made seizures with a combined Duty Paid Value of N365,888,696.00
On Tuesday, March 5th, 2024, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, Customs Area Controller of Seme Area Command, held a press briefing at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, highlighting the commendable activities of the command from January 2024 to date.

The event, aimed at fostering transparency and open governance, provided insights into the Command’s revenue generation, export activities, and anti-smuggling efforts.
Revenue Generation:

On revenue generation, Comptroller Bomodi said the Seme Area Command was tasked with collecting 7.875 billion Naira in the current year, representing a substantial increase from the previous year’s target.
He said despite  challenges such as the decline in imports due to high exchange rates, the Command collected a commendable amount of revenue.
He said in  January and February 2024 alone, a total of 1,160,988,897.30 Naira was collected, reflecting the dedication and efficiency of the customs officers.
On export, Comptroller Bomodi noted that the Command processed 184 export declarations for various items, totaling 65,185.96 metric tons with a significant FOB value. Additionally, revenue was generated from Non-oil Export Stimulation Scheme (NESS) and export surcharge, further contributing to the Command’s revenue stream

He said,”In the light  of our present economic realities, where massive food shortages have been reported across the country, and in line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally, the Command made a seizure of a truckload of beans, totaling four hundred *(400)* bags with a DPV of Sixty One Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦ *61,450,00.00* ), stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors in the border. This item has since been deposited in the Government warehouse for safekeeping and eventual sale to the public.

In the same vein, the continuous surveillance of the border by our officers and men has resulted in the interceptions of Four Hundred (400x30liters) of PMS equivalent of 12,000 literswith a DPV of Eight Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Naira ( *₦8,347,680* ) in the early hours of Saturday, 2nd March 2024 along the creeks. The PMS seized will be auctioned in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of seized perishable items as directed by the Service.”

Anti-Smuggling Activities
Comptroller Bomodi noted that the  Command’s anti-smuggling efforts yielded impressive results, with 168 interventions leading to significant seizures. These seizures,he said , included foreign parboiled rice, petroleum products, vehicles, general merchandise, narcotics, and firearms, with a combined Duty Paid Value of 365,888,696.00 Naira. Thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, underscoring the Command’s commitment to enforcing border security and combating illicit activities.
He attributed the success of the Seme Area Command’s operations  to effective collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and regular joint security meetings held at the Joint Border Post.
He emphasized the importance of information sharing among sister agencies in achieving border management objectives.

He assured that as the lead agency in border security and facilitation of international trade, the Seme Area Command remains vigilant in the face of evolving challenges posed by criminals.
He  reiterated the Command’s commitment to upholding its responsibilities and ensuring the sustainability of a robust defense against illicit activities at the border.
Despite challenges, the Command’s dedication, collaboration with other agencies, and relentless pursuit of its mandate are crucial in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and promoting lawful trade.

” These are trying times for the Nigeria Customs Service.As criminals get more desperate and daring .We ,at Seme /Krake Joint Border post will ensure the sustainability of a  formidable defense” Bomodi affirmed
The commendable efforts of the Seme Area Command serve as a testament to the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and effective border management in the country.