Customs intercepts 389 wraps of cannabis sativa in Kebbi

The Kebbi State Customs Command has intercepted 389 wraps of Cannabis Sativa (Laptop sized) and 75 bags of foreign fertilizers from the smugglers at the border areas of Kebbi State.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the command headquarters while handing over the seized items to the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further prosecution, the Kebbi State Customs Controller Jo Attah said the arrested was done based on the anti-smuggling offensive against the smugglers including strategic meetings with traditional, political and youth leaders with a view to gaining mutual understanding and compliance.

According to Attah, other seized items include 824 kegs of Petroleum Motor Spirit (25 liters each) amounting to 20, 600 litres; 22 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each; 128 bales of foreign used clothes; 22 Jerry cans of vegetable oil (25 litres each); one used Toyota Corolla car; 54 bags of sugar (50kg each); one boat engine; and eight locally made canoes.

He noted that the total duty of N 61, 559, 568. 09, was paid for the seized items.

He said a suspect was arrested and later granted administrative bail, saying that while other seizures have economic consequences, Cannabis Sativa has grave security and health implications that are better imagined than experienced.

“We remain resolute on our determination to bring criminal trans-border trade actors to their knees in this Command,” he quipped.

He said the revenue generation of the Command stood at N 38, 198, 068.9 for the month of August 2022.

“We continue to call on the business community to take advantage of the reopened Kamba border to do their trans-border businesses. Passing or attempting to pass goods through any other border in Kebbi apart from Kamba is still illegal as the Federal Government policy on border closure remains in force,” he admonished.

Attah said the emerging challenges of anti-smuggling operatives are that of the people signalling the smugglers on the activities of Command.

“Our intelligence revealed that many youths are informing smugglers about the movement of officers to evade arrest as means of livelihood. This action is in violation of Section 77 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 LFN 2004, which prescribes two years imprisonment and forfeiture of apparatus used in passing or signaling such information,” he said.

He emphasised that such an unpatriotic act sabotages and tries to frustrate officers’ efforts to effectively police and interdict improper bringing or taking out of items that might affect National Economy and Security.

“Thankfully, interventions of some traditional rulers and other opinion leaders, arising from our sensitisation efforts is beginning to yield positive results. While we continue to appreciate our leaders for their tireless support for the Command, we will not hesitate to remind the general public, especially those hired and positioned at strategic locations to monitor our movements for the information of their paymasters that they are against the interest of the nation. Section 77 of CEMA awaits them when arrested,” he added.

“As we step into the Ember months, Kebbi Area Command is redoubling its efforts to facilitate legitimate trade while poised to make smuggling unprofitable through the Command,” he stated, calling on all people of goodwill to co-operate with the officers to enable them to serve the country better.

ponding, the Kebbi State NDLEA Commander, Usman Sulieman, thanked the efforts of the Nigeria Custom for their effective service delivery, adding that the arrested people will face the Law.