Low importation of goods into the country through the Seme Border is impacting negatively on the Seme Customs Command as its revenue collections dips.
The Customs Area Controller of Seme border Command, Compt. Victor Dimka disclosed that despite the down turn of importation of goods that has affected the Command’s revenue generation negatively, it has continued to tackle smuggling.
“Seme Command generated N3,265,335,939.89 from January – April,2016 despite the dwindling economic activities and challenge of high exchange rate on the importation of general goods into the country.
“The clear records of our activities in effective trade facilitation, drastic suppression of smuggling and securing the international border of any trans -border crimes must be seen to be in total compliance to our books of instructions that guides the discharge of our statutory responsibilities,” he noted.
In one of his briefings with the members of management team at the Command, the Compt. pointed out that the illegal importations of fairly used vehicles through the Command have been curtailed and charged his management team to ensure that the momentum of total compliance to all extant laws is sustained by every unit.
“The input of the enforcement unit of the Command with regards to suppression of smuggling has been unprecedented in recent times, yet the unit must continue to live up to expectation in combating smuggling activities of any kind, especially illegal importation of fairly used vehicles which for now contribute over 50 per cent of the Commands total revenue.
It could be recalled that from Jan – April, 2016, Seme Command recorded 221 seizures with a total DPV value of N180,847,967.60 and a total number of 17 suspect which are at different level of investigation and prosecution. Highlighting on the importance of the seiures, he said his officers must continue to send the right signal to discourage other people from indulging in the act of smuggling.
Considering the effect of the economic meltdown, the Customs Area Controller said he was adopting a holistic approach to ensure his officers and men work under a peaceful atmosphere devoid of rancour and crisis.
This he said was evident in his monthly consultation and interactive session with the host communities, the border security agencies, the critical stakeholders, opinion leaders and the youths of the entire communities.
However, he warned officers to be careful and to work strictly within the confines of our codes and legal notices, as any infractions observed will be traced to where it originated and the culprit made to face the full wrath of the law.
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