Customs in Renewed War against Smugglers
In a renewed war against smugglers, the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) appears to have put many who have embraced trade crimes out of business with seizures which duty paid value is put at over N2.3billion in a short period o
There appears to be no hiding place for smugglers with the latest onslaught against them by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The past one year from every indication has been a period of many losses over renewed efforts to check the die-hard smugglers or importers who would simply try some chances by diverting their goods through neighbouring ports and trying to bring them into the country through the back door. The figures recorded as seizures by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Customs continue are simply incredible in such a short period of time compared with what was the situation in the past.
Over the years officers of the Service, particularly those charged with the responsibility have been criticized for failing in their task of protecting the borders from smugglers who bring all types of prohibited goods into the country. Some items smuggled into the country may in some cases not be prohibited but their importers may choose to smuggle them to evade payment of appropriate duties. Those at the border stations and others saddled with the task have often been accused of simply conniving with the smugglers to allow the latter have their way. The Customs officers are usually not alone in this allegation as other security agencies of government are also said to have a way of allowing the smugglers escape unpunished under a special arrangement. For instance, the smugglers are allowed easy passage at particular times through unapproved routes or even approved routes when they would not find anyone on duty. That is why some would simply say that some officers at the border stations do not fight smugglers, they simply reach a deal with them.
Sometimes, it is said that smugglers who are arrested may be those who want to outsmart the Customs and other security operatives and therefore caught in the act by informants. But the truth is that in some cases, resident customs officers and other security agents at the border stations are sometimes handicapped in fighting the smugglers as they live in the same neighbourhood with them. Such confrontation would equally mean that they don’t expect anything in return from the traders. This explains why despite all the seizures, one still finds certain prohibited goods in the market. Just imagine the amount of seizures, involvwhatever reason.
We call on Nigerians to support the Nigeria Customs Service through genuine information that could assist us in tracking smugglers and their routes”. The Controller had on assuming office charged all officers and men to gear up for the challenges ahead, insisting that “deliberate and concerted efforts must be made to surpass the achievements of the previous year”.