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20 containers of gold, silver ore stolen within Customs control in biggest heist operation.

Eyewitness reporter with agency report

The Mexican Customs Authority has announced the biggest heist in the history of the port when 20 containers laden with expensive gold, silver Ore and television disappeared from a freight yard within the Mexican Customs control.

According to the Head of Mexican Customs, Horacio Duarte, thieves stole the shipping containers this month from a freight yard in what was described as an organised crime.

Horacio Duarte told the Associated Press that the theft was the result of “a very serious organized crime operation.”
The region, known as the state of Colima, is dominated by the Jalisco Cartel, a semi-militarized group of criminals that is led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, a drug trafficker who is known as the most-wanted man in Mexico, as well as one of the most-wanted in the US.
The Mexican Employers Federation and Mexico Customs Regulations did not respond to a request for comment from Insider.

The theft took place earlier this month but was not reported until Monday.Local newspaper, El Pais, reported that over a dozen fully-armed thieves broke into a private freight yard near a port in Manzanillo, dubbing it the “biggest heist’ in the port’s history.

The thieves reportedly gagged the guards at the yard and took eight hours to pick out the high-value shipping containers.

El Pais reported that the men knew how to use the cranes and other gear at the location and connected the containers to several trucks before driving away.

“It is unprecedented, there had been no robbery of this nature before this,” Gustavo Adrin Joya, a spokesperson for the security department of Colima state, said in a statement to El Pais.

The goods have not been seen since then, the local newspaper reported.

Jos Medina Mora, President of the Mexican Employers Federation, told Associated Press the theft is a sign that safety concerns in the nation are growing.

El Pais reported that the port is a main thoroughfare for the cartel, especially for unloading synthetic drugs that are made in Mexico and sold in the US.

While freight theft is not uncommon, it is unusual for dozens of containers to be stolen at once.

 CargoNet’s Vice President of operations, Keith Lewis, told Insider freight yards can be a vulnerable place for high-value goods.

“A shipment is most vulnerable anytime it is parked,” Lewis said.

In 2020, cargo theft hit a record in the US as hundreds of thousands of shipping containers flooded ports and nearby shipping yards amid the supply-chain crisis.

Lewis said that multi-million dollar shipments like containers full of semiconductor chips or television sets are often fitted with security devices in the US, including covert trackers and specialty locks to deter thieves.

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Customs

Korea deepens collaboration with Nigeria Customs, fetes Adeniyi

Funso OLOJO
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea hosted a formal dinner on Thursday, 31 October 2024, in honour of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi and members of his management team at the Embassy in Abuja.
 The event underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations and the shared objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Korean authorities.
CGC Adeniyi, accompanied by senior officers including Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) of Human Resource Development, Greg Itotoh, DCG of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, and DCG of ICT-Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, expressed his appreciation for Korea’s commitment to partnership. In his address, CGC Adeniyi highlighted the progress achieved through collaboration with the Embassy of Korea and other allied agencies, noting how these relationships have enhanced the NCS’s capacity to adopt advanced technologies.
“It is due to our dedicated partnerships that the NCS is now engaged in data analytics programmes, in alignment with World Customs Organization standards,” CGC Adeniyi stated. He elaborated on how these analytics enable the Service to make informed decisions, benefiting from predictive, descriptive, and prescriptive insights. “Learning from global leaders, like Korean Customs, has empowered us to adapt and refine our data-driven strategies,” he added.
The Korean Ambassador, His Excellency Kim Pankym, commended the CGC and his team for their dedication and expressed optimism about continued collaboration. “We are honoured by the Comptroller-General’s presence here tonight, and we look forward to further strengthening ties with the Nigeria Customs Service,” Ambassador Pankym said.
He emphasised the Embassy’s commitment to supporting the growth and modernisation of the NCS.
In his remarks, DCG Greg Itoto expressed the Service’s appreciation for Korea’s proactive engagement with NCS initiatives. “The Embassy’s support and willingness to partner with us are instrumental in driving our Service to greater heights.
“We look forward to continued growth through these collaborations,” Itotoh stated.
The evening reflected the deepening relations between the two nations and affirmed Korea’s dedication to Nigeria’s customs modernisation and capacity-building efforts.
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Customs

Adeniyi pledges to deepen collaboration with NAGAFF as he hosts freight forwarders’ association in Abuja

Funso OLOJO
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, received a delegation from the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Tuesday, 29 October 2024, at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Headquarters in Abuja, led by the association’s National President, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi.
In his address, CGC Adeniyi expressed enthusiasm about the visit and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the partnership between the NCS and NAGAFF.
He stated, “These are all possibilities, and we will be willing to work with you.”
The Customs Chief praised NAGAFF’s resilience and dedication to exploring areas of mutual interest, identifying potential opportunities for collaboration, and emphasising the importance of their ongoing engagements in fostering effective partnerships.
CGC Adeniyi provided the delegation with an update on the Nigeria Customs Service’s transformative initiatives to enhance trade facilitation, border security, and technology integration.
He highlighted several projects currently being pursued to improve operational efficiency.
The Comptroller-General also confirmed his intention to attend NAGAFF’s upcoming Silver Jubilee Anniversary to recognise significant role as a key stakeholder in customs operations and policy implementation.
Earlier, NAGAFF’s National President, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, congratulated CGC Adeniyi and his team for their contributions to national economic growth and security.
He said, “Your remarkable achievements since assuming office cannot be overstated.”
Regarding the upcoming Silver Jubilee Anniversary, Ezisi highlighted NAGAFF’s longstanding partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service, which has spanned 25 years, and formally invited CGC Adeniyi to attend the event.
He further assured the CGC of NAGAFF’s active participation in the forthcoming CGC Conference, including unveiling the association’s newly acquired N500 million Secretariat.
The NAGAFF delegation included Chief Afam Chukwuma, Deputy National President (Seaport) and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Silver Jubilee; Igwe Kingsley, National Secretary; Princess Chi Eze, National Vice President (Western Port); and Melody Obehi, National Treasurer, among others.
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Customs

Adeniyi reads riot act to newly inaugurated  ACTU members in Abuja as  Customs partners NIIA to train senior officers in global trade

Funso OLOJO 
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance integrity and transparency in Customs operations, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), on Thursday, 25 July 2024, read a riot act to the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) members at the Nigeria Customs Headquarters in Abuja shortly after the inauguration.
This initiative follows the recent partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) in charge of Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspection, Aliyu Alajogun, the CGC emphasised the importance of tackling corruption and other related offences head-on.
Addressing the ICPC delegation, DCG Alajogun stated, “We are tasked with ensuring that our operations are free from corruption and that we uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct in all our dealings to ensure a far-reaching impact on our economic stability and international reputation.”
He urged the newly inaugurated members to adhere to the standards of their new roles, adding, “You are the frontline defenders against corruption and environmental degradation.
” Each of you has been selected for your expertise, integrity, and dedication to public service. Together, you will lead initiatives that foster accountability and restore public trust.”
He continued, “As you embark on this journey, always remember that your efforts contribute to the Nigeria Customs Service and the larger objective of preserving our environment for future generations.
“I urge you to embrace collaboration with other stakeholders, leverage technology, and enact innovative strategies to combat environmental crimes.”
On behalf of the ICPC, Olusegun Adigun, the Acting Director of the System Study and Review Department, praised the Comptroller-General of Customs for his commitment to enhancing the transparency and integrity of the Service through this partnership, which led to the inauguration of the new ACTU members.
“I must commend the Comptroller-General of Customs for today’s inauguration,” he remarked.
“It is hoped that this event will empower the unit to deliver on its mandate, which includes periodic staff training on anti-corruption and the examination of system processes.”
Adigun charged NCS Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit members to maintain integrity, exercise their duties responsibly, and avoid any form of oppression as they fulfil the strategic roles expected of them.
Expressing the Commission’s gratitude to the Nigeria Customs Service for making the event a reality, he added, “We hope that achieving our collective vision will assist in building strong institutions for the overall good of our great nation.”
Corroborating this, the newly inaugurated ACTU Chairman, Comptroller of Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Comptroller Emmanuel Osogba, pledged to implement policies aimed at enhancing the transparency of Customs operations across the Service’s formations while maintaining NCS standards.
“Our focus will be on establishing clear guidelines for transparency, enhancing mechanisms for reporting misconduct, and engaging with different departments and units within the Service to foster trust and participation,”
Comptroller Osogba said. “Together, we can create a legacy of integrity and transparency that engenders a positive perception among the public and improves our rating on the transparency and integrity index—a legacy that future generations will cherish.”
The newly inaugurated ACTU members took the Oath of Allegiance, administered by Barrister Nkem Ezenwa, Director of the Anti-Corruption Unit. Their tenure will span three years, after which a new regime will be appointed.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), has taken a significant step towards enhancing the country’s trade and investment landscape with the launch of the Bashir Adeniyi Centre for International Trade and Investment.
The centre, named after the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, was inaugurated in Lagos at the NIIA on Thursday, 24 October 2024.
The CGC expressed optimism about the centre’s potential, saying, “The establishment of this Centre comes at an opportune time as Nigeria is repositioning itself in the global trade environment. “As we continue to advance these initiatives, I envision that this Centre will evolve into a comprehensive national think tank focused on international trade and investment.”
In his welcome address, the Director General of NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, acknowledged that the centre will serve as a finishing school for senior customs officers.
“Today, we are very pleased as an Institute to announce to the world that we now have the Bashir Adeniyi Centre for International Trade and Investment. This centre will serve as a finishing school for senior officers in customs, offering senior executive courses that will be certificated. Because this is the NIIA, we will do this as a global affair, properly immersing the Nigeria Customs Service in the framework of the World Customs Organisation,” he stated.
The event featured a panel discussion with eminent Nigerians, including Donald Duke and Dr Chinyere Almona, examining the challenges and solutions for Nigeria’s economy regarding trade and investment.
Speaking to reporters about the benefits of the centre, the CGC emphasised its importance, saying, “We have a strong commitment to our mandate of trade facilitation, among other things, so we believe that the centre will be a centre of excellence in building capacity and, most importantly, creating awareness about the necessity of conducting international trade. Trade brings prosperity, and we hope that this centre will foster prosperity through trade.”
The CGC officially unveiled the centre and toured the facility.
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