By: Abdulhafeez Oyewole
The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has arested two suspects in connection with two suspected stolen vehicles bearing the same number plates.
The two vehicles are a 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep model with chassis number JIEBXFJOAKOO7069 registered EPE-911-HH, intercepted at Chikanda border post in Baruten Local Government of the State, and one used Toyota Hiace bus with Chassis number TRH200155105 and with same registration number EPE-911-HH, also intercepted at Chikanda heading towards Benin Republic.
The command’s Comptroller, Kehinde Ilesanmi, made this known at a press briefing in Ilorin on Tuesday wherein the two suspects and the two stolen vehicles were paraded before the press.
He said, “After preliminary investigation by our enforcement and legal unit, it was established that the two vehicles were stolen.“In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the approval of the Controller General of Customs, CGC, was sought and received to hand over the two vehicles to the Nigeria police force for continuation of investigation.”
According to him, the two suspects along with their stolen vehicle were apprehended on Wednesday, 14th of June, 2023 and Sunday, 16th of July, 2023 by the gallant officers of Kwara state Command of the NCS.
The two vehicles and the suspects were eventually handed over to operatives of the Lagos State Police Command after the briefing.
Ilesanmi further disclosed that the command generated N5.9 billion from June to October this year, surpassing the amount generated last year by N307.5 million.
According to him, while 15 seizures, including foreign parboiled rice and petroleum products were made, three suspects were also arrested during the period under review.
"I want to use this medium to inform you that from June –October, 2023 the Command has recorded Fifteen (15) seizures. These include 352 bags of foreign par boiled rice of 50kg each, and 1, 875 liters of PMS of 25 liters each in 75 Jeri cans.
"Three (3) suspects were arrested during the period under review and the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizure is N11, 149,636.00."Concerning revenue generation, from June to October the Command has generated the sum of N5, 992,300,562.73 which surpasses what was generated same period last year 2022 with N 307,517,623,49," he explained.
The comptroller warned those who intend to use the yuletide period to make money by smuggling prohibited items to think twice.
He said, "I want to warn those who want to use this yuletide period to make money by smuggling prohibited items to think twice as our officers have continued to dominate our AoR with aggressive patrols to deny smugglers freedom of action.The general public is thus encouraged to continue to provide credible information to the Command through Customs officers operating within their localities."
He commended the CGC for giving the Kwara command an additional four patrol vehicles that would assist in achieving great results.
"The Command will like to use this medium to appreciate the magnanimous support of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) and his management team for giving the Command additional Four (4) patrol vehicles that will in a great way assist the Command to achieve great results," he said.
Ilesanmi reiterated the ban through the land borders on the importation of foreign rice, used vehicles, vegetable oil, second-hand clothing, used tyres, and other dangerous drugs like Tramadol and Marijuana is still in place.