The command has also successfully convicted 5 smugglers in the last 10 months

A Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has said that it has collected about N6.59 billion revenue out of its target of N8.4 billion set for 2012.

The Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, Othman Salleh, who stated this said his command also realised N142.2 million from 317 seizures between January and October this year.

Mr. Salleh made the disclosure on Friday to newsmen at the Customs conference room, Seme, Badagry, Lagos State.

“We have made 317 seizures with a duty paid value of N142.29 million between January and October 2012.

“Five out of the 22 suspects arrested had been convicted, while other cases are at various stages of investigation and prosecution,” he said.

The customs boss said the hard drug related cases “have been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the spirit of inter agency collaboration.”

The Comptroller said that the command arrested a couple with 30 compressed blocks of substance suspected to be cannabis.

“The suspects, exhibits and KIA Sephia car had since been handed over to the NDLEA,” Mr. Salleh said.

The Area Comptroller noted that the command’s scanner, and its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage have maximally assisted the command, adding that it has facilitated the clearance of goods within Seme border.

He said that the command was facing a lot of challenges which were surmounted by dedicated staff workers.

“The deplorable state of the Seme-Lagos Highway which tends to hinder legitimate trade is a big concern,” he said.

Salleh frowned at what he called “the improper method adopted by the Customs Administration of Republic of Benin in the escort/canalisation of imported vehicles.”

Among other challenges, he identified, were inadequate office accommodation as a result of the border reconstruction.

Salleh said that discussions were still going on with the view to addressing the problems and warned that the command would not tolerate smuggling in any guise.

He said the command also had zero tolerance to falsification and all forms of anti social activities.

NAN