Customs Area Controller for Niger, Kwara and Kogi Mr Benjamin Binga, has disclosed that the command generated N2.1 billion revenue from January to date. ‎ The CAC made this disclosure while briefing newsmen on the activities of smugglers in the ‎area. He said that the command’s revenue target for the year from the Federal Government was N2.8 billion.

He said the command impounded over 2000 ‎bags of rice and 1, 500,  25-litre vegetable oil, clothing and concealed items in the last three months. ‎ The controller said that N43 million worth of rice and vegetable oil, with duty value of N16.8 million were also confiscated during the period.

In his words “These seizures were made in Bosso, Babana, Okuta, Bokoro and Chikanda borders of the command. The command also confiscated 16 vehicles with camouflage plate numbers just to beat being arrested. The owners tried to beat the Customs by trying to haulage it through the rail system, but we got privileged information and ambushed and arrested the owners and their smuggled rice”

Binga said that smuggling was a multi-faceted monster, adding that no country could survive economically if smuggling is allowed to thrive. ‎ He promised to stem the menace of smuggling within his command.

The Controller was emphatic that smuggling was no longer viable as officers of the command were ready to flush them out.

Binga, revealed that the command was saddled with logistics problems and inadequate ‎manpower. According to him“You can imagine three states in one command; it is not easy managing it without adequate working tools to combat the smuggling activities,” he said.