The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone `B’, of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it had seized goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N399.4 million from the beginning of January.
Its Area Controller, Comptroller Mustapha Sarkin-Kebbi, said this while conducting newsmen round the seized items at NCS Sokoto Command on Friday.
“Our monitoring teams across the zone have intercepted different smuggled items with DPV of N399.4 million within this month of January 2020,’’ Sarkin-Kebbi said.
He said the seized items included 658 bales of textile materials (wrappers) containing 65,800 pieces which were intercepted on Jan. 14, along Bachaka/Argungu road in Kebbi State on their way to Sokoto.
He said other goods seized included 322 bales of second hand clothing, 1,577 bags of foreign rice, 207 kegs of vegetable oil and 343 cartons of spaghetti.
Others were 548 cartons of smuggled soap, 200 pieces of used tyres, 600 cartons of green tea and 218 kegs of petroleum products.
“This seizures alone has N285.9 million DPV while a driver arrested with wrappers truck ran away when the truck stopped for repairs on the road to Sokoto,’’ Sarkin-Kebbi added.
The comptroller added that bags of fertilizer, a truck, cars, foreign palm oil and other materials were also intercepted within the period.
“The unit had also intercepted a petroleum tanker carrying smuggled rice along Zaria-Kaduna road, three trucks containing toys, sweets, green tea and cosmetics were intercepted at Jibia-Gurbin-Baure road heading to Katsina axis among others.
“Wrapper vales and some items among the seizures are not contraband, however, illegally smuggled into the country without adhering to stipulated regulations.
“Importers are expected to register and declared their items as well as pay required values at stipulated entry points into the nation.
“Nigerian land borders are partially closed, so any person coming with goods from porous border is illegal,’’ he said.
Sarkin-Kebbi lamented the attitudes of some border communities, which he described as a great challenge to NCS operatives, as many communities considered smuggling as legitimate business.
The comptroller emphasized that more sensitisation with the stakeholders is needed to educate them on lawful regulations and dangers of smuggling to the nation’s safety and economy.
He said the service was more determined to curb the activities of smugglers despite their antics to help the local industries in the country and boost the nation’s economy.
Sarkin-Kebbi urged members of the public, especially the media, to support the Customs by giving useful information about smugglers and disseminating information on the consequences of their activities.
States in zone ‘B’are: Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kogi, Niger, Kwara and FCT.
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