Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service,Federal Operations Unit, Zone B in Kaduna has made seizures of 27 different items ranging from used foreign shoes, foreign parboiled rice, second hand clothing, expired milk and juice powder, among others from January 1 to January 16 , 2024 amounting to a total duty paid value of N1, 975,657,865.96
Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Dalha Wada Chedi, who disclosed this in Kaduna at a press briefing where he gave a breakdown of the seizures made within the first six weeks of 2024,stated that two suspects have been arrested in connection with smuggling acts within the period under review.
The Controller reiterated the unit’s resolve to enforce it’s anti smuggling mandate whilst enjoining the general public to be on the side of customs in fighting the menace of smuggling which, according to him, undermines government goal for revenue generation and aims at compromising the health of unsuspecting Nigerians. This is a fight that we all must give priority to for the president to succeed and deliver on the renewed hope agenda to Nigerians.
Comptroller Chedi used the medium to thank the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for what he described as their morale boosting leadership and encouragement to his officers and men towards achieving their goal.
According to him, the unit is an enforcement arm of the Service that will continue to arrest situations that may harm the citizens of this Country.
Explaining further, he said “On Wednesday, 24 January 2024 at about 2200hrs, the operatives of the unit intercepted One (1) truck conveying One Hund red and Seventy-Nine (179) Bags of Tiger Nuts (50Kg each) based on intelligence along Maigatari/Malamfatori/Birniwa axis of Jigawa State.
“On the 3rd February 2024, the operatives of the Unit arrested Three (3) Trucks along Gumel-Kano road in Jigawa State. 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. Hundred percent (100%) physically examination was conducted at the premises of Kano/Jigawa Command and the Three (3) trucks were found to contained 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.
“Two (2) 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.
“Also on 11 February 2024 at about 2200hrs, the operatives of the Unit acting on credible intelligence along Tsafe-Funtua Road in Zamfara State intercepted One (1) truck on the suspicion of improper importation. Further examination revealed that the truck was conveying 75 cartons of expired foreign jolly juice powder and 8 sacks of foreign expired milk powder that were found to have expired since 2019 thus unfit for human consumption. The expired milk was concealed with sacks of dried hides & skin. These are expired, unused and contaminated items which if not intercepted by our operatives would cause havoc to the society in general.
“Other items seized within this period 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.
“The Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the Seizures made within the period under review is 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(#1, 975,657,865.96) only.
“It is important to mention that the foreign dates and the Tiger-Nuts by their nature are 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.
“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.
“It is a fact that things are difficult for common men in this country, despite this; smugglers are adding to the suffering of the citizens by smuggling these expired and unhealthy items that are injurious to health and wellbeing of the people” he said
