The Eastern Marine Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), says it has seized items with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N172 million in the last three months.
The Area Comptroller of the command, Anderson Jaja made the disclosure at a press briefing in Calabar on Tuesday.
Jaja listed the items seized to include 62 bales of used second hands clothing with DPV of N16.8 million, 190 pieces of used tyres with DPV of N15 million, Soaps, Detergents, Creams, Wines, Juices, Beverages and Bicycle with DPV of N69 million.
The comptroller said that other items include bags of used shoes, scrap metals, wire mash, chemicals, and others with DPV of N14 million.
He also said that batteries, drums, water tanks with DPV of N45.9 million as well as two flying boats of DPV N8.5 million, 21 AK47 magazines, two pistol magazines and 49 arms accessories with DPV of N868, 244 were also seized.
While noting the adverse effect and impact of these seized items on the economy, Jaja said under his watch, all forms of illicit businesses would be suppressed.
He declared zero tolerance for smuggling and asserted that the command would not give breathing space to perpetrators of illicit businesses to thrive.
“We are here to highlight our anti-smuggling achievements over the past three months and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to securing the Nigeria’s eastern marine corridor.
“As we speak under my leadership, the eastern marine command has implemented proactive strategies that have successfully suppressed smuggling within the axis.
“The effectiveness of these measures is reflected in the seizures we just showcased, and these ranged from used clothes to tyres, pharmaceuticals, scrap metals, consumables beverages, wines among others,” he said.
Jaja re-affirmed his commitment to securing the Nigeria’s eastern marine corridor which stretches from Delta to Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
