Customs officers to undergo training in marine operations

The Customs Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Mr. Yusuf Umar, has said that officers of the command will undergo training in marine operations.

Umar said this at a brief ceremony at the command’s office in Lagos, where officials of the command, the State Security Service and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control witnessed the destruction of 1,102 cartons of impounded poultry.

He said the training was important to improve the performance of officers of the command in combating smuggling on the waterways.

Umar said, “The command has arranged training programmes both locally and internationally for its officers. We are the amphibious arm of the Customs Service and it is important that officers are adequately trained to combat smuggling on the waterways.”

The Western Marine Command, which covers about 16 states, is saddled with the responsibility of securing over 200 creeks against smuggling activities.

Umar added that the command had impounded 1,102 cartons of poultry smuggled through the waterways in the last nine days.

He said the seizures, which had increased since the launch of Operation Hawk Descend, were made at various locations. They consisted of 110 cartons impounded at Iyafin Yekeme; 95 cartons impounded at Ereketi-Idiroko; 150 cartons impounded from the Badagry creeks, 330 cartons impounded on the Badagry waterways, and another 417 cartons impounded by the CAC’s roving team and the Badagry station.

Umar said, “No arrests were made because often when the smugglers see us advancing, they dive into the water and abandon their goods. These people are very good swimmers and can stay up to 30 minutes below the river.

“However, they are also businessmen who take loans and use their savings to buy these products for resale. We intend to keep up the pressure until they give up.”

He also said that three officers of the command were wounded by smugglers during a shootout on the waterways three weeks ago.

Umar said, “We received information three weeks ago about a vessel bringing 4,000 bags of rice. When the smugglers saw us, they tried to flee and even went as far as throwing some bags of rice into the river but we kept up the chase.

“It eventually resulted in a shootout and three officers were wounded. Some of the smugglers too also lost their lives while others escaped. I had earlier ensured that some of my officers received training to sharpen their shooting skills.”

He condemned smuggling of poultry from the Republic of Benin by unpatriotic Nigerians, saying that the products not preserved in a healthy manner were meant solely for export and not consumed by the host country.

Umar said the command had also embarked on enlightenment campaigns in the riverside communities and advised traditional rulers to warn their subjects against smuggling.

He said the command had also received bullet proof vessels to aid its operations. The vessels were said to be anchored at Marina until the construction of the command’s jetty, which would take care of the shallow draught.