The Sokoto/Kebbi/ Zamfara Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has seized 600 cartons of Gold Seal Cigarettes with a duty-value of over N73.45 million.
The Area Controller of the command, Mr Ahmed Isyaku, disclosed this at a news conference in Sokoto, Sokoto state, on Wednesday while previewing the activities of the command.
Isyaku said that the command intercepted the cigarettes being transported to Kano from Sokoto, because the owner failed to pay the specified customs’ duties.
The Sokoto/Kebbi/ Zamfara Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has seized 600 cartons of Gold Seal Cigarettes with a duty-value of over N73.45 million.
The Area Controller of the command, Mr Ahmed Isyaku, disclosed this at a news conference in Sokoto, Sokoto state, on Wednesday while previewing the activities of the command.
Isyaku said that the command intercepted the cigarettes being transported to Kano from Sokoto, because the owner failed to pay the specified customs’ duties.
The controller said: “The commodity was seized not because it was a contraband, but because the owner had failed to pay the specified duties.
“The cigarettes were seized in an articulated vehicle with registration number Katsina XA 651 CRC, along Gusau-Tsafe road on Sept. 12 at about 5.30 p.m. by our operatives who were on patrol."
The controller said that one suspect who was connected with the goods had been apprehended and he was awaiting prosecution.
Isyaku also said that the command had earlier on Sept. 6 seized 1,050 cartons of frozen fish, worth over N20 million.
According to him, the frozen fish had been destroyed in accordance with stipulated laws.
“The destruction had generated panic in certain quarters associating the fish to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
“I wish to use this medium to clarify the air that by no means was that frozen fish associated to any disease.
“That fish was destroyed in that manner because that is what the law stipulated, the importer had completely contravened the entire requirements for fish importation, hence the destruction," he said.
Besides, Isyaku said that the command had seized 25 smuggled vehicles and two cartons of suspected Indian hemp worth over N2 million.
This had been handed over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Isyaku said.
“The command is working to curtail smuggling of any kind as we have stepped up our anti-smuggling campaigns to forestall any use of our border areas to smuggle in any contraband goods,’’ he said.
He warned those that were into this illicit act to desist from the act forthwith or risk arrest and prosecution.
“Our officers are now better positioned to combat the obnoxious business of smuggling," the controller warned.
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