By Suleiman Adamu Sokoto
The Sokoto/Zamfara Customs area Command has auctioned 11,270 liters of seized premium Motor Spirit to the general public at official rate of N180 per litre.
Similarly, the command also handed over a truck load of 20ft container laden rail slippers along with three suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps .
The Area Command Controller, Comptroller Kamal Muhammed while declaring the commencement of the exercise Monday in Sokoto said it was in compliance with the CGC’s matching order to seal up all routes used for the smuggling of petroleum products.
The operatives under the aegis of Zone ” B” whirlwind tactical team with reinforcement by Officers and men of Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command intercepted 11, 270liters of premium spirit (PMS) popular called petrol.
According to him ,this is in an effort of the Service to curtail smuggling and economic sabotage of petroleum products.
It could be recall that the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR on the 22 of May, 2024 inaugurated an intelligence – driven tactical team code named whirlwind assigned with the sole mandate of combatting the smuggling of petroleum products to neighboring countries.
He stated that the maritime and cross border smuggling of PMS has a negative impact on the overall supply chain of the product in addition to the possibility of funding of criminal activities with the proceeds.
Even with the removal of subsidy, the smuggling of PMS brings about extra cost burden on the country both in terms of security of supply and securing of the scarce foreign exchange used to import the product.
The service is poised to continue to protect Nigeria’s economic interest with dedication and integrity without fear or favour in tandem with the provision of the law.
Inline with extant laws and the approval by the Comptroller General of Customs, the seized PMS will be auctioned to the general public today at a token of 180 naira per liter.
Relatedly, last week the whirwild zone B tactical team auctioned 20,142 liters of PMS to the general public at Kebbi Area Command.
In the same vein, on the 8th of June, 2024, operatives of the Command clampdown on a notorious cartel that specializes in vandalisation of railway tracks.
A truck conveying a 20 feet container laden with vandalized railway tracks along with three (3) suspects were intercepted by the Command monitoring team at Kajiji along Kebbi road.
The suspects could not tender evidence of allocation from the Federal Ministry of Transport, instead made an overture to bribe the officers with N1.5 million and even making an advance cash offer of N300, 000.
However,out of patriotism and integrity, the Officers chose the path of honour by detaining them at the Command Headquarters.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) is the Agency mandated to secure Critical National assets, conforming with the Collaboration Policy thrust of the CGC”,
The Area Command handed over the Suspects, the truck, and its content and the sum of N300,000 cash to the Commander NSCDC Sokoto Command for further investigation and prosecution.
He warned the smugglers to desist from their dastardly act as the long arm of the law will surely catch up with them in no distance time.
While appreciating the continuous support and effort of the newsmen to the command towards upholding the rule of law and protection of the Nation’s interest.
