The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ said it made a total of 188 seizures of 17 different prohibited items with a total Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N628, 286, 660.62K between March and April 2023.
This was disclosed by the Customs Comptroller in charge of the Unit, Compt Musa Jalo during a press briefing held on Thursday at the unit headquarters in Kaduna.
Speaking on the anti-smuggling activities of the Zone during the period under review, Comptroller Jalo said on 6th April 2023, the Operatives of the Unit intercepted 46 sacks of Marijuana, with a street value of N2, 069,144.40K along Bungudu-Tsafe N628maRoad in Zamfara State.
The Comptroller said, “On 23rd March 2023, Customs operatives intercepted a suspicious white illegal narcotic substance at Maigatari axis of Jigawa State.
“The officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after carrying out a test, confirmed it was an OPIUM Substance with a total weight of 422g and street value of N31, 018,568.98K only.”
The operatives also arrested One (1) Used Volkswagen Golf driven by a Nigerien citizen along Jibia-Katsina Road containing 22 pairs of Foreign Tactical Military Camouflage Shirts and Trousers and another 25 pieces of Military Camouflage T-Shirts.
The seized items were handed over to the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) for further investigation and possible prosecution in adherence to the collaborations between the two agencies.
“Our eagle-eyed officers likewise impounded 140 Jerry cans of Automotive Gas Oil with DPV of N2, 746,639.00. Similarly, the Unit Intercepted 1, 147 Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit worth N2, 167,657.95,” the Controller stated.
He said, “In line with the extant laws and guidelines as directed by the Customs Headquarters, the PMS and Diesel that were seized have also been auctioned and the proceeds remitted to the coffers of the Federal Government.”
Items seized during the period under review include 37 Units of Used Vehicles, 5 Units of Vehicles, 2,109 bags of Foreign Parboiled rice (50kg) and 69 bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (25 KG each), 8 Jerrycans of Foreign Refined Vegetable Oil (25 Litres each), 1,241 cartons of Foreign Spaghetti and Macaroni.
Other items were 39 bales of Foreign Secondhand Clothing, 30 sacks of Foreign Second Hand Shoes, 14 cartons of Foreign Fruit Juice, 21 Cartons of Foreign Pomade, 80 pieces of Foreign Car Batteries, and 1 carton of Foreign Milk.
In line with the cordial relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Comptroller Jalo said the 46 sacks of Marijuana together with the means of conveyance would be handed over to the Commandant NDLEA Kaduna State Command for further action.
The Comptroller while noting his commitment to ensuring efficient service in the zone, informed the officers about the commendation received from the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) CFR for renowned performance.
He also commended the Customs management team, for their logistics support to the Unit, as well as other sister agencies, namely the Police, DSS, Military, NDLEA, and Standards Organisations of Nigeria (SON) among others, for their collaborations and support in the fight against smuggling.
