The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C of Nigeria Customs Service in Owerri said it made 15 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N865.52 million in April.
The unit also recovered underpayments of N23.304 million in the month.
Comptroller Mohammed Uba, the Area Controller, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Owerri also gave a breakdown of the commodities seized to include: 726 bags of foreign rice with DPV of N29.30 million, 1 x 40ft container of tubes and tyres with DPV of N5.92 million and four vehicles in a container.
Others are: 1 x 40 ft container carrying 845 used tyres and four vehicles, 726 bags of foreign rice with DPV of N29.3 million and PVC doors and garments.
Also included are 1158 cartons of medicaments, including 635 cartons of Tramadol with duty paid value of 494. 95 million and 845 used tyres with duty paid value of N8.112 million.
Uba, who displayed some of the seizures deposited at the government warehouse in Benin, Edo State, said that the seizures were made in Benin, Calabar, Enugu and Owerri axis of the zone.
He said that there were some other commodities in detention, while intense investigations were ongoing.
Uba said that the unit did not engage in arbitrary seizures or detention of commodities, but exercised due diligence and operated within the ambits of the law to thwart efforts of unscrupulous individuals bent on sabotaging the economy.
“We are not here to intimidate anyone or discourage genuine traders, but to facilitate trade with a view to generating more revenue for the Federal Government.
“Government is ready and willing to assist any citizen willing to undertake legitimate trade,” he said.
Uba called on smugglers to turn a new leaf and engage in legitimate trades and join in the development of the nation.
“Smugglers, agents and all those partaking in illegal trades should desist from such.
“The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri will leave no stone unturned in flushing you out from this zone,” Uba said.
He said that 21 suspects were in the unit’s custody and would be charged to court, while 25 cases were currently in court.
The comptroller handed the seized substandard medicaments to a representative of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Esther Itua.
He said that fake and substandard drugs were harmful and injurious to health, while second hand tyres were responsible for most of the accidents on the highways.
“The dangers associated with used tyres is that they have expiry dates from the dates of their manufacture and their usage by some motorists, more often than not, caused road accident and deaths, hence the ban on them”.
In her response, Itua commended the customs service for its efforts in safeguarding the health and safety of the nation.
She called on other security agencies to emulate NCS for its spirit of comradeship.
In another development, Uba has been deployed to Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ in Lagos.
This development is consequent on the appointment of four new deputy comptroller generals and seven assistant comptroller generals to replace some officers who have retired.
Uba, who was appointed the Comptroller FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri in October 2016, has recorded unprecedented achievements in anti-smuggling operations in the Zone.
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