The Nigeria Customs Service’s Federal Operations Unit Zone B has revealed that between January and February 2023, it made 130 seizures of contraband worth N305 million.
The Punch reported that a statement from the Zone’s public relations officer, Suleiman Isah, disclosed other items seized during the period under review included 163 jerry cans of vegetable oil, each holding 25 liters of vegetable oil, 646 cartons of foreign spaghetti and macaroni, and 724 bags of foreign rice weighing 50 kg each.
In the words of the public relation officer, “Other seized items are 90 bales of foreign secondhand clothing, 569 packs of foreign unregistered pharmaceutical products, 119 packs of unregistered tramadol, and tramaking 225mg, 17 sacks of foreign secondhand shoes, seven cartons of foreign cigarettes, 147 pieces of foreign jack knives, 50 cartons of foreign soap and 635 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit 25 litres each.”
According to The Punch, he claimed that the materials were seized in violation of federal government import and export regulations.
Isah further stated that the seized materials have been placed at several Customs facilities throughout the zone.
“In line with the extant laws and guidelines, the seized PMS was auctioned as directed by the NCS headquarters, and the proceeds were remitted to the coppers of the Federal Government,” he said.
He claimed that the zone’s operatives, under the direction of Comptroller Musa Jalo, had intensified their efforts to fight against smuggling across the border to make more arrests and make the smugglers lose their money.
He claimed that the unit’s members’ dedication to the fight against smugglers was the reason for the success seen during this time.
It was reported that Jalo urged the locals along the border to share information that will help the unit carry out its mission.
He further stated, “Consider the operatives of the service as implementers of the Federal Government fiscal policies that are meant to improve and protect our industries, thereby, creating employment and boosting the economy of the country.”
