Customs CG commends Tin-Can command for timely response to intelligence

The management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commended the Tin-Can Island Port (TICP) command for ‘timely use of intelligence’. The commendation, which marked the third in two months, was following the recent interception of 200 parcels of cocaine concealed in a 20 feet container of Virgin Cellulose Tasman for cement production and imported into the country.

Yusuf Bashar, Customs Area Controller of TICP command, who disclosed this at a recent media briefing in Lagos, said that apart from arms, military kits, bullets, bullet pouch and military foods that were intercepted before the commendation, that the command recently impounded 300 pieces of ammunitions with one pistol, 20 riffles and bullets.

He said the command relies a lot on intelligence, which has helped in the seizure of prohibited items through the Tin-Can port.

“Once we get intelligence, we work on it, sieve it and extract the facts for use, and this has been yielding fruit. We received another commendation from the customs management for timely use of intelligence which led to the seizure of imported cocaine,” Bashar explained.

Continuing, he added: “We have had several seizures in the past, which we handed over appropriately to the responsible agencies like whatever concerns Police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) because we believe in inter agency collaboration,” Bashar stated.

According to him, Customs handedover these impounded items to ensure follow up and due investigations. “Recently, we made the cocaine seizure, which we handed over to NDLEA and the cocaine is worth over N2 billion on the streets.”

Bashar further disclosed that the command recently handed over a container with ready to eat egusi soup, jollof rice, ogbono, yam porridge and other kinds of Nigerian delicacies to the NAFDAC. He added that the command also handed over imported substandard cables to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

The implication of such substandard cables, he noted is that Nigerians can get their houses burnt by using such product. “I think this is the fourth time we are handing over weapons or accessories of weapons like pallets, bullets, pistol, military uniforms and boots to DSS.”