The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “B” said it has seized various contraband items with duty paid value of about
N 2 billion from January, 2024 to date.
Its Comptroller, Mr Dalha Chedi, made this known on Friday in Kaduna while briefing newsmen on the anti-smuggling feat of the command within the period under review
He said that the operatives of the unit during the period under review remained resolute in the fight against smuggling.
”They made several seizures of 27 different items ranging from used foreign shoes, foreign parboiled rice, second hand clothing, expired milk and juice powder, among others.”
Chedi said that the operatives also intercepted one truck conveying 179 bags of tiger nuts (50Kg each) based on intelligence along Maigatari /Malamfatori/Bimiwa axis of Jigawa.
He also said that the operatives had impounded three trucks along Gumel to Kano road in Jigawa.
According to Chedi, the arrest was made following information shared by the intelligence network of the NCS-Headquarters, Abuja on the suspicion that they were conveying prohibited items.
He also said a 100 per cent physical examination was conducted at the premises of Kano/ Jigawa Area Command.
The comptroller said that the three trucks were found to contain 5076 cartons of foreign soap, 703 bales of foreign second-hand clothing, 925 cartons of macaroni, 320 bales of foreign textiles and 12 jumbo sacks of foreign used shoes.
Chedi said that two suspects were arrested and detained at the Kano,Jigawa command in connection with the seizures and they have been granted administrative bail pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
He explained that other items seized within the period under review based on credible intelligence along Tsafe-Funtua Road in Zamfara included one truck on the suspicion of improper importation.
Chedi said, “Further examination revealed that the truck was conveying 75 cartons of expired foreign jolly juice powder and 8 sacks of foreign milk powder that were found to have expired since 2019.”
According to him, the milk was unfit for human consumption, adding, ”it was concealed with sacks of dried hides and skin.”
Other items seized within this period under review were 237 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50Kg each), 1837 cartons of foreign spaghetti, macaroni and couscous, 1707 jerry-cans of premium motor spirits (PMS), 25litres each.
Chedi also listed othe seized items to include sachets of Amoxicillin, Artesunate, 500 Mg, 35 cartons of flame lighters and 2089 cartons of foreign dates.
Others were 142 cartons of YES Cigarettes, 810 pieces of foreign used tyres, with many vehicles deposited at various customs formations in the zone, among others.
According to him, foreign dates and the tiger-nuts by their nature as edible and perishable goods would be auctioned in line with the provisions of Paragraph 15 (b) of the Schedule of the Nigeria Customs Service Act No. 35, 2023
He said,” These seizures were made as a result of contravention of several sections of NCS Act 2023 and breach of extant Presidential directives on border closure
” It is a fact that things are difficult for common men in this country, in spite of this: smugglers are adding to the suffering of the citizens by smuggling these expired and unhealthy items that are injurious to the health and well-being of the people.”
Chedi reiterated the unit’s commitment to continue to arrest situations that may harm the citizens of the country.
The comptroller also called on the public to continue to avail the personnel of the service with credible information to enable them to fight the menace of smuggling
He said the menace of smuggling was undermining the government’s goal for revenue generation and compromising the health of unsuspecting Nigerians.
Chedi emphased, ”It is a fight that all must give priority to for the President to succeed and deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda to Nigerians.
“NSC personnel are Nigerians too and we share in their pains at this critical time.
”However, the operatives of the unit will not relent until smugglers are out of business.
”We will not be tired in our twenty-four hours and seven days round the clock enforcement drive to suppress smuggling.”
