FROM MIJINYAWA BABA- UTHMAN,MINNA
Barely Four weeks of his assumption in office, the area Comptroller of Niger Kogi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service Mr. Paschal Chibuoke has intercepted a total of 283 parcel of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp).
The operatives of the Area Command of the Kogi out- post on routine patrol based on intelligent mechanism intercepted a Honda Accord with registration number,FKJ 878 DJ with Duty Paid Value (DPV), of Five million four hundred and forty four thousand naira along Lokoja - Abuja expressway on the suspicious that it was conveying prohibited items.
Already,the intercepted 283 siezed parcel of the cannabis have been handed over to the Niger State Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA Nacortic Commandant NC Shehu Numau Gwadabawa.
Addressing Journalists, at a news briefings at the area Command headquarters in Minna Monday, Comptroller Chibuoke stated that while the searching was on- going,the driver, sensing that the " eagle eyes of our officers had discovered concealment, of the illicit drugs , abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush to evade arrest".
He disclosed that upon searching of the vehicle,283 parcel wraps of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) was found with the estimated dut paid value (DPV) of Five million Six hundred and Sixty thousand (5,660,000), .
The area Comptroller, warned those into drug business to desist from the illicit business as the Niger/ Kogi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to partner with the Niger State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to scuttle their business.
" On this note, I want to warn those into drug business that the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to work hand in hand with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to criple down your illicit business" he warned.
Comptroller Paschal Chibuoke, told Journalists that the Area command under his watch within the last four weeks in the area of Anti-smuggling has recorded seizure and detention of mine units of exotic cars and other vehicle of different make,, with cumulative duty paid value of one hundred and seventy
million one hundred and seventy thousand,two hundred and Sixty seven naira ( N170,160,267),.
Other seizures recorded within the area command, according to the area Comptroller, include one hundred and four (104), Jerry- cans of premium motor spirit ( PMS) with duty paid value of four hundred and sixteen thousand naira (416,000) already auctioned due to its inflammatory nature,after approval was granted by the Controller General of Custom and the money realized was remited in to the Federal Treasury.
" It is difficult to imagine that despite the current scarcity of petrol in the country, some unpatriotic Nigerians still attempted to smuggle this product out of the country through our borders" he stated.
Speaking further, the area Comptroller noted that the succes recorded within the four weeks of his assumption in office won't be achieved without the unwavering commitment and sacrifice of men and officer of the command adding that" and I want to you that I and my management team will explore ways to reward officers who perform exceptionally well in discharging their duties in order to serve as morale boosting for them to do more"
While warning smugglers and their cohorts that Niger/ Kogi will be unbearable for them or they should engage in a legitimate business he said there is no hidding place for them in the area Command.
He called on members of the Public to be mindful of the activities of some disgruntled elements who go about defrauding unsuspecting individual with fake custom duty.
Receiving the seized drugs the state Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Niger State Command, Commandant Shehu Numau Gwadabawa commended the Area Comptroller for partnering with his command assuring that the NDLEA will continue to synegize with the Area command to ensure drug free Niger State.
