Customs’ Remarkable Fight Against Smuggling

For an economy like Nigeria’s, that is going through turbulent times as a result of the slide in oil price which is the country’s main source of revenue, the need to maximise all other sources of revenue generation while initiating new ones cannot be overemphasised.

There is more pressure on non-oil sector to deliver increased revenue to the federation account like never before since oil was discovered in Nigeria.

With recent developments in the global oil market, particularly with the discovery of shale gas technology by the United Stated and the consequent oversupply in the market, economies dependent on oil revenue all over the world have been experiencing serious trouble with some no longer been able to fund their budget.

While Nigeria has managed the pressure since last June when oil price began to plummet, the reality of the development has now caught up with us as the economy is beginning to struggle.

It is against this background that the recent success recorded in the fight against smuggling by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is one deserving of commendation.

The news of the arrest of some foreign nationals who allegedly specialise in smuggling prohibited items into the country and the immediate commencement of a legal action against them, would sure serve as deterrent to other smuggling syndicates, whether foreigners or locals.

The suspected smugglers, who are Chinese nationals also own and operate illegal warehouses where they store the smuggled items before distributing them for sale within the country.

According to the news informing of their crackdown which was disclosed by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service last week, the Chinese, four in number, are in the business of smuggling and illegally storing prohibited textile material in private warehouses at Gandun Albasa commercial Layout of Kano.

The operation that led to their arrest and seizure of their prohibited goods is said to have been planned and coordinated by the comptroller-general of Customs Abdullahi Dikko himself, while the CGC Task Force, a special anti-smuggling unit, carried out the operation.

Narrating the events that led to the arrests and seizure, leader of the special task force, deputy comptroller of Customs, Hassan Shallangwa, explained that the CGC had received information which he investigated and consequently assigned undercover operatives to monitor activities at the warehouse locations and report back.

When it was eventually confirmed that smuggled textile materials were being stored in the private warehouses, the CGC directed the headquarters anti-smuggling task force to storm the area and seize the smuggled goods as well as arrest anyone who is connected to it, or involved in the illegal business.

Shallangwa said: “The operations that lead to the seizure and arrest of these suspects was planned and coordinated by the Comptroller-General of Customs Abdullahi Dikko.

“The CGC had received information which he investigated and sent undercover operatives to monitor the area until when he was certain that smuggled textile materials were being stored in some private warehouses, before he directed the headquarters anti-smuggling task force to storm the area with a view to seizing the smuggled goods and arresting all that are connected to it.”

Shallangwa who decried a situation where other nationals would chose to disrespect the laws of the land and engage in smuggling and other negative vices, said such activities can negatively affect the ongoing efforts of the federal government to industrialize the country and raise the standard of living of Nigerians.

He said “We are Nigerians and have no other country to call our own, hence will not tolerate any person, no matter where he comes from to disrespect the laws of our country.”

According to the NCS, so far, six warehouses operated by the smuggling syndicate have being opened and found to be fully stocked with smuggled assorted textile materials with over twenty other warehouses are suspected to be containing same items.

As all the suspected warehouses remain sealed and investigation into the development is ongoing, the valuation unit of the Service is presently working on the quantity and value of the seizure which is expected to run into billions of naira.

While the four Chinese are to be charged to court immediately, the Customs Service has assured law abiding business men and women in the country that they have nothing to fear as the agency is not out to witch hunt any person but determined to cripple illegitimate businesses and facilitate legitimate trade.

It should be stressed that the implication of shipping Nigerian bound cargo into neigbouring countries from where they are then smuggled into the country, has been the loss of the much needed revenue for development.

Criminally minded business men and women, have refused to take advantage of the laudable overhaul and modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service, which has simplified the entire import and export chain to the extent that from the comfort of ones living room, bedroom or office, import and export process can be completed using the Nigerian trade hub portal, a special interactive web based system designed for this purpose.

For some importers who still choose to go through the illegal routes for the importation of their goods, their excuse cannot be one of delay or cumbersome import process, but that of selfish personal interest and pre-meditated intention to sabotage the nation’s economy by refusing to pay import duty.

Nonetheless, with better work incentives, Customs officials, particularly operatives of the anti-smuggling units, through reliable intelligence reports that have overtime resulted in remarkable seizures, have now established smugglers change in tactics and as a result are giving them a run for their money.

Perhaps what criminally minded importers don’t know is that gone were the days when they could smuggle with impunity because the NCS was ill equip to fight smuggling. The Nigeria Customs Service of today under the Dikko-led management is one that is highly motivated, trained and properly equip to meet the challenges of modern anti-smuggling operations.

Whether the goods are smuggled in using large Lorries and trucks or through the waterways, or brought in bits, using smaller vehicles or motorcycles through the porous borders in an attempt to avoid attention, the agency is now aware of such tactics and is determined to bring smuggling to an insignificant level.

Customs improved logistics, both land and air, have helped to boost anti-smuggling operations and resulted in many seizures. With the kind of resources now available to the Service, it would amount to self-destruction for anyone to commit their resources into smuggling of prohibited items that will be seized in addition to the risk of being prosecuted and face jail term.

There is the need for all Nigerians as well as foreigners doing business in the country to join the on-going drive towards transforming the nation by avoiding acts of economic sabotage and revenue leakages for the general good of all.

It must be reiterated that the importation of only goods allowed by law and payment of appropriate Customs duty on them, encourages industrialisation and economic growth which the country is in dire need of at the moment. Consequently, members of the business community expected to ensure compliance with the rules of the business to ensure this objective is achieved.

In conclusion, the time is now for members of the trading community in Nigeria to shun the business of economic sabotage and reciprocate government’s gesture of reforming the process of importation and exportation by adhering to the rules of the business and improving on their compliance level at all stages of the import and export chain.