The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’, says it has seized items with duty paid value of N51.44 million within two weeks.
The Comptroller of the unit, Mr Al-Bashir Hamisu stated this in Kaduna while briefing newsmen on contraband that were seized between March 22 and April 8, 2021.
He said the Customs personnel also seized 801 50kgbags of foreign parboiled rice, 180 cartons of foreign pasta, 81 kegs of vegetable oil, 48 bales of second hand clothes and 28 25kgbags of foreign rice and cartons of foreign milk among others.
Hamisu explained that eight vehicles used for smuggling activities were impounded within the period under review and the items were confiscated around Babura in Jigawa state.
He attributed the successes recorded by the command to the improved capacity of the unit officers.
The Comptroller however lamented the attitude of some patriotic citizens who prefer to be on the side of smugglers than supporting Customs’ personnel.
According to him the cooperation they have from the border community has diminished.
“The general public are not with us especially those at border community; they are now on the side of the smugglers”, he said.
He called for more synergy and collaboration with other sister agencies so as to achieve more success as well as public cooperation to enable them safeguard the economy of the country and ensure success of government policies.
The Comptroller advised vehicle owners to always warn their drivers to avoid transporting prohibited items.
Nneka Ukachukwu
