The Nigeria Customs Service Sokoto/Zamfara Command, under the leadership of Comptroller Kamal Mohammed, has commended his officers for the arrest of three suspects in connection with railway track vandalism.
In a press briefing held at the command headquarters in Sokoto, Comptroller Kamal stated that the suspects are members of a notorious cartel which specialised in railway track vandalisation
Speaking on the arrest, the said:“On the 8 of June, our officers intercepted a 20-footer truck containing vandalised railway tracks along with three suspects. They couldn’t tender evidence from the Federal Ministry of Transport and instead offered a bribe to the tune of 1.5 million naira with an advance cash offer of N300,000. Out of patriotism and integrity, the officers chose the path of honour by detaining them at the command headquarters.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is the agency mandated to secure critical national assets; conforming with the CGC’s policy thrust of collaboration, the Area Command will hand over the suspects, truck and its content, and the sum of N300,000 cash to the commander NSCDC Sokoto command for further investigation and prosecution,” the CAC stated.
Similarly, the Command also intercepted 11,270 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which the CAC ascribed as part of the service’s effort to curtail smuggling and economic sabotage of petroleum products.
In his words, “In compliance to the CGC’s matching order to seal up all routes used for the smuggling of petroleum products, the Zone ‘B’ Whirlwind tactical team with reinforcements by officers and men of Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command intercepted 11,270litres of premium motor spirit(PMS) popularly called petrol.”
The CAC disclosed that “In line with extant laws and the approval by the CGC, the seized PMS will be auctioned to the public.”
Comptroller Muhammed noted that maritime and cross-border smuggling of PMS harms the overall supply chain of the product, in addition to the possibility of funding criminal activities with the proceeds.
He restated the service’s commitment to continue to protect Nigeria’s economic interest with dedication and integrity, without fear or favour, in tandem with the provisions of the law.
