The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) a dismissed customs officer who was caught with Indian hemp worth N8m.
The Area Controller of Customs, Mr. Mohammed Aliyu said the new strategy of Operation Zero Smuggling, introduced by the Seme Area Command, led to the suspect’s arrest and the seizure of about 400 kilogrammes of Indian hemp.
While handing over the unnamed dismissed officer and the product to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Aliyu said diverse strategies had been adopted by the command to ensure that Seme border would be a “no go” area for trans-border miscreants and traffickers.
He said the officer was dismissed after all the conditions of the public service rule and the Customs and Excise Preventive Service Regulation were fulfilled.
The Controller added that the punishment meted out to the dismissed officer was meant to serve as a deterrent to others in the service who might choose to be recalcitrant.
Aliyu frowned at the alarming rate which illicit substances are intercepted by the command.
“The service would not shy away from purging itself of all unscrupulous elements that delight in dragging the image of the service in the mud. The command will continue to protect the nation’s territorial integrity through the scanning of all imports,” he added.
Aliyu sought for the cooperation of all the stakeholders and the Seme border host communities, including community chiefs, youths and opinion leaders for effective enforcement of federal government policies.
The controller called for inter-agency collaboration for effective border management, intelligence sharing and strict compliance with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on the Lagos-Abidjan corridor saying it would facilitate legitimate trade and enhance business.
