05 July 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — THE Seme area command of the Nigeria Customs service has intensified its security plans to checkmate trans-border crimes some of which includes illicit drugs and human trafficking and smuggling of prohibited items.
Speaking at the end Joint Border Security meeting, the Command’s comptroller, Mr. Mohammed Aliyu said that the Command’s renewed commitment in intelligence-driven operations and collaborations with other relevant agencies for effective border management cannot be overemphasized.
Command’s helmsman frowned at the alarming and disturbing rate at which illicit substances are being apprehended by officers and men of the command in an attempt to be smuggled through the waterways or land borders.
He affirmed that Seme Command will continue to protect the nation’s territorial integrity through the scanning of all imports and aggressive anti-smuggling operations of all illegal routes.
He stated that this measure must be taken because there is a lot of security threats and opportunities arising from international trade growth and global migration.
In a related development, the Customs Area Controller at the Customs Community Consultative Forum, CCCF, also said that the core mandate of the service can only be achieved under a peaceful atmosphere devoid of rancor.
He sought the cooperation of all the stakeholders in the host communities some which include Baales, Youth and Opinion leaders, Bankers and Licensed Agents.
He explained that by engaging different communities under the CCCF platform, the command has consciously differentiated the actual stakeholders based on their position of influence and location to the border command.
“The continuous mutual consultations always give rise to effective relation management whose benefit is reciprocal and symbiotic.” he said.
He disclosed that a dismissed Customs officer was caught recently arrested with (391 kg) of tested Cannabis sativa (Marijuana) to the commander NDLEA, with a street value of N8million.
He warned officers to desist from any form of behaviour that could embarrass the agency.
