[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Garba, Controller, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service, who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar and his proactive teams are now taking the battle to the Smugglers den as they have vowed to stop smugglers from operating in their zone. Compt. Garba described smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law.

He has always held on to the philosophy that you can never succeed as an anti-smuggling officer by mere saying smuggling is bad and smugglers are dangerous to our national economic growth. You must try to show example by fighting it head-on and putting your life on the line to show that you can die for this course. This anti-smuggling czar whose antecedents are record breaking at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja when it comes to customs operations wondered aloud that while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramifications, some smugglers are unrepentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest. A believer in optimum delivery wherever he serves. Compt. Mohammed Garba, enumerated the obvious consequences of smuggling to the nation’s economy and her citizenry especially when it has brought unspeakable grief and sorrows to those caught and members of their families.

He described the seizures made by the eagle-eyed officers of the unit under the recently introduced new operational policy of the service led by Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), Comptroller General, NCS to maximize revenue generation for the nation and also ensure a stronger, more oriented, vibrant and efficient customs service as gallantry. While the government is putting all the necessary measures in place to sanitise the nation’s export market, Compt. Garba appears to have found an answer to the rot at the ports in Lagos and the land border stations in the south west geopolitical region. Compt.Mohammed Garba, who has shut the door against corrupt Customs officers and agents has deployed fierce looking officers to the re-invigorated roving team of the Command.

The FOU, Zone ‘A’ roving team, which is now being headed by a seasoned anti- smuggle czar, Okpabi Charles Jack, a Chief Superintendent of Customs who was nick named by agents and smugglers as a “mad dog” because of his insistence that the right thing must be done , has done a similar job when he was the officer in charge of Customs Patrol Team at Eleme- Akpajo axis, Port–Harcourt under FOU, Zone “C”, Owerri. Infact, when CSC. Jack Okpabi was at FOU Zone ‘C’, Eleme- Akpajo axis as Patrol head, Jack and his men put on tough look in dealing with the dubious agents and their importers; a lot of seizures was made by his team then . So the Grassroots Publishers online are not surprise that since he mounted the saddle, the Benue -born senior officer has moved in full swing with his men to sanitise the sea ports, airport and land border stations under FOU, Zone “A”. This proactive team headed by CSC. Jack Okpabi has taken the battle to the smuggler’s den in its strive to clear the mess at the seaport, airport, Car mart and land border station.

More facts have emerged why officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, had become more aggressive in their anti-smuggling campaigns in Lagos , Ogun and other states in the south west geo-political region.This is because Hameed Ali, a retired Colonel and Comptroller General, NCS, according to Compt. Mohammed Uba Garba recognizes ”hard work and diligence to duty”.

This is in addition to the ”Management motivation and logistic support”. Ali , the Customs Comptroller General show of appreciation of the good work of Compt. Garba and his men is exemplified with the Commendation letters that was said to have been sent to the Command. The commendation letter was confirmed by the Command’s Customs boss. He disclosed that the Comptroller General had sent two Commendation letters to the Command at two different times since he assumed office . As this is the best operation zone as they have made alot of imaginable seizures in the past months. Investigation by the Grassroots Publishers online shows that the Command became a force to be reckoned with in the nation’s anti-smuggling operations with the resuscitation of the Roving Team which was working in bits and fits before his assumption of office.

Indeed, the last one month had been very challenging to the zone, CSC.Okpabi Charles Jack and his men had led an operation to a hidden House in Ikoyi where 51 assorted vehicles were showcased for sale. Included in the 51 assorted Vehicles showcased in the Ikoyi car shop are also four bullet proof jeep. The Roving team leader was said to have supervised the evacuation of the Vehicles to the Command Mechanical workshop.
The evacuated Vehicles based on intelligence by the FOU, Zone A, operatives are said to be over 40 2017 vehicles models ranging from Toyota Prado Jeeps, Lexus Jeeps, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Camry, Coaster Bus and Toyota Hiace Bus.

An elated Garba stated further that an additional eight vehicles was evacuated from another car shop in Festac town. This brings the total number of vehicles impounded by the Command Roving team within the month to 59 . The fear in both official and unofficial circles was that it would have been very dangerous if the bullet proof jeeps had been purchased by die hard criminals or drug barons who have the money to spend. Infact this is the best Customs crack team since the creation of Federal Operation Unit in Nigeria.

At present, the vehicles are currently in detention going by the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA, Cap 204. Garba, the FOU, Zone A, Customs boss said the dealers have a grace period of one month to produce the relevant Customs papers to take delivery of their vehicles or forfeit it to government. The dealer of the bullet proof jeeps is expected to produce also the ”End User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA. Besides evacuating the assorted vehicles from the two distinct car shops in Lagos, Garba and his men are not yet done with the dealers.Six people including the Manager of the Ikoyi Car shop were said to have been arrested and detained in connection with the 51 vehicles evacuated from their shop, The detained officials , a source confirmed have been released on bail.
The Customs boss was said to have constituted a team to Investigate whether the cars were smuggled into the country or imported through Nigeria and released without payment of appropriate duty. The investigation, he said would” further reveal those behind the clearance of the vehicles to face the wrath of the Law”. The vehicles alone, according to him have a duty paid Value, DPV, of N1.077 billion.

Despite efforts by the Roving team to put the agents at the sea and air port under control, some of them have devised strategy to beat Customs to it. It was learnt that there was an incident in a Container allegedly released from Square terminal but suspected to be carrying contraband was flagged down by Customs operatives at the Berger Bridge . The truck driver was said to complained of failed brake. But the Customs personnel were said to have used a toll van to toll the truck to their mechanical workshop.

More worrisome is the use of company vehicles to smuggle rice into the country. Dangote and Guiness Nigeria Plc trucks are the more often used by drivers from these companies to engage in these nefarious activities. It is obvious that their managements are not aware of what they are doing and therefore must read the riot act to drivers who use their vehicles to deliver goods to Customs both within and outside Lagos worst guilty. This is because the FOU Zone A Enforcement Unit have under-cover agents who pass information to them which makes it impossible for any driver to use company vehicle to smuggle rice or poultry products.

In spite of taking the anti-smuggling battle to the smugglers den, the Command was said to have saved the government N144. 43 million from Duty Payments, demand notices on general goods that tried to circumvent the law at seaports , airports and Land border stations through wrong declaration, transfer of value, underpayment of duty that had accrued to government within the month. The customs management team should honour entire FOU, Zone ‘A’ led by Compt. Garba for recovering millions of naira that could have entered into private pocket as usual. This roving team of FOU, Zone ‘A’have intercepted  a lot of smuggled containers carrying contraband goods.it is on record that between January and October, 2017, the Command was said to have recovered billions of naira from importer with agents to the government for infractions in their transactions at the port, airport and border stations.

Both the officers at the Checkpoints and patrol teams were said to have seized 6,206 bags of rice , which is more than 10 trailers in October alone. the Comptroller frowned at the seizure of 1-4 bags of rice by his men, insisting that their attention should be focused on those who bring rice in commercial quantities to the country.

Compt. Mohammed Garba has warn smugglers that his proactive roving teams are battle ready to cripple smugglers and getting them out of the illegitimate business, more importantly this yuletide period. He advised smugglers to stay clear from his zone because his proactive team will never compromise with any dubious agent or smugglers. Presently, some dubious agents have resorted to blackmail against the officials of Zone ‘A’ and sending threat text messages to them for serving this nation. But amidst these challenges, the Grassroots Publishers online appeal to our proactive Compt. Mohammed Garba, and his men not to relent in the national assignment of ridding the country of contraband items, describing smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law .

By: Grassroots Publishers