Photos: Anti-Smuggling Campaign: Nigeria Customs officers attacked by smugglers while on patrol in Ogun State

Officers and Men of Niferia Customs were
attacked by smugglers while on patrol along
Ogun/Ole-Odan axis of Ogun State. Four
suspects have been arrested in connection to
the attack. The operation led to the seizure of
11 motor cycles which was used as a means of
conveyance of 250 bags of smuggled rice.
A statement by Nigeria Customs Service said
the attack will not in anyway deter Service from
performing its statutory functions most
especially in the area of anti-smuggling
operations. Below is a statement issued on April
16 by the command on its Anti- Smuggling
Campaign.
"Anti-smuggling activity is one of the
responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs
Service towards safeguarding the health
and wellbeing of every Nigerians by
protecting our various borders against
illegal importation of items that will pose
security challenge to the nation.
In carry out this responsibility and
collecting maximum revenue into the
coffers of the Federal Government,
Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs
Service are often been attacked by
Smugglers.
These incessant attacks on Officers and
Men of Nigeria Customs Service on patrol
by “dare devil” smugglers have led to so
many deaths and series of injuries
recorded in the Service. In some cases,
Officers and Men are left with deep
machete cuts and various degrees of
injuries.
The Service does not make laws but
implement and enforce Government
Fiscal policies as it concerns trade.
Enforcement of these policies means
compelling people to comply and this
makes Customs work more difficult and
challenging.
The government is making all efforts to
ensure that all revenue meant for the
government are collected and remitted.
Encourage local industries and revive
industries that have been closed down
due to smuggling activities. The launch of
operation “hawk descend” an anti-
smuggling campaign against the
smugglers of frozen poultry products
sometime last year witnessed a massive
seizure of frozen poultry products across
the country. This has brought about
attitudinal change by the consumers who
now prefer local poultry products to the
imported product.
The import prohibition list states clearly
what should NOT be imported into the
country. Click: https://
www.customs.gov.ng/ProhibitionList/
import.php
Despite this unhealthy confrontation from
the saboteurs of our economy “dare devil
smugglers”, the Nigeria Customs Service
of today will not spare anybody found in
this illegal act. We will crush smugglers
out of their illegal business as we have
what it takes to bring them down."