By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara area command said it has intercepted 222 units of used compressors used to produce explosive devices.
Giving reports on the achievements of the Command at a media briefing in Ilorin, the Area Controller, Najeem Ogundeyi listed among several others, the explosive device components intercepted in Eiyenkorin, a suburb of the State capital.
Others also intercepted included 120 sacks of illegally mined lithium ore intercepted at Alapa/ Banni area of the state.
Shedding more lights on the used compressors, he explained that said; the compressors are known to be used for the production of explosives that you see around and that was how we intercepted them. adding that all security men know the use of the component.
Conducting journalists round the seizures Ogundeyi showed contrabands concealed inside a truck pointing out that it was saddening that with the volume of the Custom Service efforts as well as that of other security agencies, criminals and smugglers in particular still engage in negative vices.
He however said in as much people would not heed the warning of the Customs Service in this regard urging tge public to desist from smuggling and illegal trades, the Command under his watch would also not relent in going after and flushing them out to face the music.
His words; “regrettably, despite these warnings, some criminal elements have continued to engage in acts of economic sabotage. These individuals, driven by illicit profit, have tested the resolve of the Command through persistent attempts to smuggle prohibited and restricted items into the country. However, I wish to state unequivocally that such unlawful activities have consistently been met with firm, decisive, and intelligence-driven enforcement actions by our officers”.
Comptroller Ogundeyi displayed series of other seized items including five units of second-hand vehicles a.k.a ‘Tokunbo vehicles’, intercepted at Alapa Patrol Base and Bode Saadu axis; sixty sacks of second-hand clothing, six jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, and two bales of second-hand clothing, 15 pieces of used tires, all intercepted at Eiyenkorin area of the State.
Others were 44 bags of 50kg imported sugar, intercepted at Bukuro and Bode Saadu axis, 317 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intercepted at various patrol bases, suspected to be intended for illegal cross-border smuggling and 1,107 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, intercepted at various patrol bases.
Also, nine vehicles loaded with foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, intercepted during coordinated anti-smuggling operations within the Command’s operational corridors were on display.
The customs boss gave the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items as ₦478,171,315.00), pointing out that the seizures underscored “the magnitude of attempted economic sabotage and level of vigilance exercised by the officers of the command”.
Other sister Services in attendance were the representatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Services, Police, Federal Fire Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).