Customs officials heavily involved in smuggling – Senate

The Nigerian Senate on Monday indicated its resolve to fight smuggling to a standstill, saying smuggling menace had shut down the nation’s economy.

Speaking at a public hearing, Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs and Excise duties, Senator Hope Uzodinma noted that several challenges have defied approaches to stop smuggling in the past, adding that, the 8th Senate has the capacity to stop it.

He explained that they would not feign ignorance of the stems of smuggling, saying that no legislative arm sits supine while smugglers were having a field day.

“We are finding lasting solutions to the horrific threat that smuggling poses to the nation. ”
“No legislative arm of government will sit while smugglers are allowed to ravage the economy and deny the government huge sums of money”, he added.

Member of the Committee, Senator Dino Melaye said there was satanic collaboration between smugglers and Customs officials, adding that such officials were profiting from it.

“It is obvious to all of us, that there is ‘satanic collabo’ with some dissidents within the Customs and that is the reason smugglers are having a field day”, he noted.
 “These smugglers are not celestial beings, even the Custom officials know their warehouses in Kano, Kaduna, Seme and other places,” he added.

Dino lamented that sub-standard goods and drugs which were smuggled into the country has adversely affected the health system of Nigerians.