Customs vows not to allow contraband goods into Nigeria

The Nigerian Customs has vowed not to allow contraband goods into Nigeria from any part of the country.  Speaking with newsmen, on Tuesday, Officer in Charge of Mfum Station in Cross River State, Mr. S. Solomon, said the officers at the border are at alert to stop desperate smugglers from taking contraband into the country through the border.

Mfum is a border route between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Mr. Solomon lamented that “some desperate smugglers have been peddling baseless stories that we are highhanded and are extorting money from members of the public which is an attempt to give the Customs at the Mfum posts a bad name to enable them continue with their illegal activities”.

He said men and officers of the Command have recently intercepted several vehicles laden with rice and other contraband items which is the reason some of those whose goods were seized have resorted blackmail against the command in an effort to stop them from performing.

“We are concentrating our efforts in doing our work to ensure there is no more business as usual at the Mfum border post and anyone with proof that we are highhanded and corrupt should come up with it”, he noted.

Mr. Solomon said the Customs Comptroller General, Col Hameed Ali, does not tolerate issues of indiscipline and the Customs at the Mfum border have been adhering strictly to the Customs codes which have no place for sharp practices.

“The driver of the vehicle that smuggled the rice which led to the publication that we are highhanded wrote an undertaking promising never to be involved in abetting and adding of smugglers and other criminals along the Mfum border”.