Customs Marine Intercepts N8.7m Consignment of Petrol

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The seized fuel in sacks and kegs

The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command said it’s operatives recently routed a syndicate that specialize in cross country smuggling and in the process confiscated a total of One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known in local parlance as petrol along Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway; en-route Benin Republic.

Address the media at Ibafon Lagos, its headquarters, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller PK Bamisaiye described the action as unpatriotic, even as he literally issued red card to elements involved in waterways smuggling within the command to seek other legitimate means of living or face the full wrath of the law.

The seizure is significant not only in terms of the critical period in which it was made but judging that it speaks deliberately to others involved in such criminal activities to consider relocating unless they want to face the wrath of the no-nonsense new customs marine boss.   

Compt. Bamisaiye middel, addressing the press, siurrounded by his principal and administrative office, with Officer Kayode and Magaji, Command PRO, to the left and right, respectively.

Addressing the press in a the most brisk business manner, Bamisaiye said, “In fulfillment of its anti-smuggling functions which is one of the core mandate of Nigeria Customs Service as enshrined in the NCS Act 2023, the Western Marine Command of the Service in a major onslaught against the reign of smuggling on our Western Waterways and Creeks has made a seizure of One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along Isalu Creek Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.

“This Seizure is most economically significant to the Command at this period of scarcity of Petroleum Products especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in our cities, and shows the anticipatory posture in our response to economic saboteurs.”

Giving further details of the operation he said, “At about 2330hrs on Wednesday 8th May 2024, while on joint patrol by Teams in the Command credible intelligence was received of the movement of Two (2) Boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in Sacks. Upon receipt of the information the Team moved into Isalu Creeks Badagry Waterway.

“On sighting the approach of our Officers the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek, the loaded Boats were then towed to our Station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters Ibafon Apapa, Lagos.

“Careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only.

“The action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service through Western Marine Command is responsible for enforcing. The Command under the leadership of Compt. PK Bamisaiye is poised more than ever to rid our Waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria.”