28 tanker loads of PMS intercepted by Seme Customs

The sustained surveillance and offensive patrol along the creeks and beaches within Badagry and its environs have yielded remarkable successes as the Seme Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service seized 28 tanker loads of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.

The duty paid value amounted to N167,722,751.51.

The remarkable seizures were made between January and December 8th, 2022.

The concerted effort led to the interception of one thousand, one hundred and thirteen (1,113) Jerry cans of PMS in (30) litres each, equivalent to thirty-three thousand, three hundred and ninety (33,390) litres during a routine patrol in beaches along the Badagry waterways in a single night.

The seizure with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of eight million, eight hundred and eight thousand, two hundred and eighty (N8,808,280.00) only was made in the late hours of Wednesday 8 December 2022.

Comptroller Bello Jibo,the Customs Area Controller explained that, with this latest seizure, the Command has so far intercepted a total of thirty-one thousand (31,000) jerry cans of PMS in 30 litres each, equivalent to nine hundred and thirty thousand, one hundred and forty (930, 140) litres, about twenty (28) tanker loads of thirty-three thousand (33,000) litres each from January to date.

The combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned items stood at one hundred and sixty-seven million, seven hundred and twenty-two thousand, seven hundred and fifty-one Naira, and fifty-one kobo (N167,722,751.51) only.

The Comptroller further stated that the giant feat achieved by the Command is unprecedented and the first of its kind in the history of the Command. He reiterated the commitment of his officers to continue making smuggling unattractive while noting that the Command will not succumb to cheap blackmail peddled by economic saboteurs who believe that the only way to succeed in carrying out their nefarious activities, is by spreading falsehood on the Command.

He affirmed that the Command remains committed to fighting all forms of illegal and unlawful businesses to a standstill at our borders.

The area controller encouraged Nigerians who are doing legitimate business along the corridor to continue their normal activities as the Command remain firm in its quest to facilitate legitimate businesses.