The Northern Zone of the Comptroller General Strike Force of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, said it has seized 71 items including 39 vehicles smuggled through the land borders with Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N367,235,139:00 in the month of June and July, 2019.
The Coordinator of the Strike Force in Zone ‘B’, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, DCC, Baba Kura Kolobe, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna shows the seized smuggled items.
He said about four suspects in connection to the smuggled items where arrested and presently granted administrative bail.
According to DCC Kolobe, the breakdown of the seizures were “5,679 bags of foreign barboiled rice (50kg), 1,953 bales of second hand clothing, 1,095 jerry cans of vegetable oil (25litres) and 39 vehicles including those smuggled through the land borders popularly referred to as “Tokumbo” all with DPV of N367, 235,139:00″.
He appreciated the support of Customs personnel and sister agencies without which the successes would not have been achieved .
He explained, “In the same vein, we advise the trading public to conduct their businesses within the ambit of the law, as the renewed vigour by our officers and men will not relent in their efforts in ensuring that die-hard smugglers are arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
“We call on all, especially our friends in the business community and the media to partner with us to make Nigeria a better place for us all where industrialization support youth employment.
“Two of the seized smuggled brand new hilux Toyota vehicles had inscription on the bonnet UNICEF and NNPC apparently to avoid being intercepted while the foreign bags of parboiled rice where concealed in 2 fuel tankers and 2 50kg bags of parboiled rice each concealed in 100kg bags loaded with tiger nuts in some other means of conveyance.”
DCC Kolobe called on the general public to furnish the NCS with useful information that will further help to checkmate activities of smugglers whose activities he said is of economic sabotage to the country.
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