In an effort to rid the country of illegal importation, the Customs service federal operations unit, zone ‘B’, Kaduna, has seized items estimated at one billion, nine hundred and seventy-five million, six hundred and six hundred and fifty-seven thousand, eight hundred and sixty-five naira and ninety-six kobo within a month.
This was disclosed by the Comptroller, Dalha Wada Chedi during a media briefing at the weekend in Kaduna.
The comptroller also declared that the unit within the period under review 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.
Similarly, three trucks were found to be carrying 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 were also seized by the unit.
While briefing the media, Chedi also explained 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.
“Other items seized between January and February this year are: 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, 3459 cartons/sachets of Amoxicillin, Artesunate, 500 Mg, 35 cartons of flame lighters, 2089 cartons of foreign dates, 142 cartons of YES Cigarrettes, 810 pieces of foreign used tyres, many vehicles deposited at various Customs formations in the Zone, among others.
“These unprecedented seizures were made as a result of contravention of several sections of NCS Act 2023 and breach of extant Presidential directives on border closure.” Chedi explained.
This is just as the comptroller further disclosed that the seizures were made through collaborative efforts of the operatives and intelligence gathering.
Chedi hereby enjoined the general public to support in fighting the menace of smuggling, which according to him is undermining the government’s goal for revenue generation and compromising the health of unsuspecting Nigerians.
