Acting Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu

The Federal Operations Unit FOU, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service, has warned smugglers that the recent killing of four of its officers would not deter officers and men of the unit from carrying out its statutory function of suppressing all forms of smuggling activities in its area of jurisdiction.

The unit, headquartered in Lagos, also serves as checks and balances on other commands within its jurisdiction, and is saddled with the responsibility of fighting smuggling and other related anti-trade activities in the six South West states of the country comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.

Acting Controller of the unit, Deputy Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, in what appeared an assessment of its activities in 2022 in Lagos recently, assured that the unit would further intensify its anti-smuggling operations in its area of coverage despite the increasing resistance, attacks and new tricks in the mode of concealments and smuggling.

He said: “The year 2022 for the FOU Zone A, was a period of sustained anti-smuggling onslaught, zero compromise for duty evasion and diligent facilitation of legitimate trade. The unit prosecuted its core mandates without fear or favour in its area of coverage. Even in the face of resistance, attacks and tricks in the mode of concealments, we were duty- bound to carry out our responsibilities. I am glad to report that we shook the smuggling world within our area of responsibility.

“This unit also prevented loss of government revenue as our assigned position of being a layer of check uncovered attempts at evading duties. We recovered the discovered shortfalls through issuance of demand notices DN.

“We did all these at the expense of our lives, placing national interest ahead of any narrow or personal gain. It is sad to note that some of our officers paid the supreme price last year when they got killed by smugglers. For us, they are the heroes of the anti-smuggling battle and they will never be forgotten. While we frown at such murderous acts, we also ensured that those behind some of the killings were arrested to face justice.

“For 2023, we shall sustain and increase the tempo of our anti-smuggling operations, ensuring zero compromise as usual, arresting perpetrators and seizing their wares. We want to advise smugglers and their collaborators to seek legitimate means of livelihood this year as this unit will continually make life unbearable for them through interdictions, arrests, seizures and diligent prosecution.”

The slain officers include Inspectors of Customs T.P Astor, and A. Onwueguzie, and Assistant Inspectors of Customs, Musa, R and Bristol, E.

The unit in view of its increased anti-smuggling campaign seized smuggled items worth N13.9billion between January-December 31, 2022. The seized items include 93,102 bags of 50kg rice, which amount to about 156 trailer loads, a total of 108 automobiles comprising trucks, tankers, cars and motorcycles, some of which were either smuggled or used as means of conveyance of smuggled items.

Others include illicit drugs comprising 2,354 kg and 4,976 tablets of Cannabis Sativa, 233 cartons of 225 milligrams, and 82 packs of 225 milligrams of Tramadol and 656,414 litres of Premium Motor Spirit PMS, which amounts to about 20 tanker loads, among several others, which contravene the country’s import and export prohibition lists.

Available records show that the unit arrested 176 smuggling suspects in the course of the year, while seven persons have already been convicted even as 14 suspects were charged to court and are at various stages of investigation and prosecution.

It was further gathered that seven other suspects are still in detention; two and one suspects were handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA and the Nigerian Police respectively, while 151 were granted administrative bail.

The Controller attributed this anti-smuggling feat to a combination of renewed vigour on the part of the officers and men of the unit, improved logistics by the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali and enhanced intelligence gathering about smugglers’ movement from time to time.

On revenue, the unit recovered shortfalls in duty payments to achieve a total revenue collection of N878.3million for the government within the period under review.

It also provided support for the facilitation of legitimate trade, ensuring ease of passage for compliant traders and double checking suspected non-compliant traders.  It also provided escort services for cargoes under bond to their respective destinations across the country.