By Giwa SHILE
The Niger Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), generated N210 million internal revenue in January, according to its Comptroller, Alhaji Abba-Kaseem Yusuf.
TBI Arica said the NCS official, whose area covers Niger, Kogi and Kwara Commands, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Minna, that three vehicles, with a total duty value of N1.5 million, were seized during the period.
“A vehicle conveying 147 (50kgs) bags of imported rice, with a duty value of N300,000 was also intercepted within the period,” he said.
He said that the command had resolved to consolidate on the gains and achievements of the past year, and had vowed to end smuggling in the area.
“We are operationally ready to tackle all challenges, especially areas identified as illegal routes used by smugglers,” he added.
He said that the command was determined to collaborate with critical stakeholders and other sister agencies to arrest and prosecute people involved in illegal business, while plugging holes they were exploiting.
Yusuf called for the involvement of border communities in the anti-smuggling drive of the service, urging residents of the communities to always give intelligence report on movement of suspected smugglers.
