Border Market Not Open For Smuggled Goods —Dimka

Acting Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Deputy Comptroller, Victor Dimka, has said that the proposed transnational border markets to be established by the Federal Government in the nation’s six geopolitical zones will not be opened for smuggled items.

He noted that the anti–smuggling arm of the NCS will not exempt such markets from raids on receipt of tip-offs that smuggling items are being sold there.

“We are backed by the law to search premises without warrant, so we will do just that. The intentions of the government are very good, but if you use the markets against what the intentions of the governments are, you will be caught by the long arm of the law,” Dimka stressed.

Meanwhile, about 201 bags of Indian hemp, allegedly worth over N11 million have been intercepted by officers of the Customs FOU, Zone ‘A’.

Briefing newsmen at its Ikeja, Lagos headquarters last Wednesday, Dimka stated that the seizure was made along Iwoye-Imeko bush path, a border village between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Dimka explained that the seizure was made based on information that the border town has been a regular route for drug barons and, with the persistence of operatives led by one Deputy Superintendent Abubakar, they were able to track down the pick-up van loaded with the Indian hemp at about 6.30am last Tuesday.

He said that the driver and his accomplice allegedly escaped into Benin Republic. “Our officers trailed them and working on information they were able to get the vehicle and the contents.

“The Comptroller-General has said that everywhere should be blocked, and we are doing just that,” he said.

While noting the harmful effect of hard drugs on its users, Dimka called on the public to always make available information that could help the NCS to track down criminals.

“The effect that these would have on the society can better be imagined because people go into armed robbery and other vices, not with their clear minds. After taking things like this, they see you as animals and not as human beings.”