Don't Miss


Home   >   Goverment   >   Zone A unit of NCS seizes over N1bn worth of contraband

Zone A unit of NCS seizes over N1bn worth of contraband

By on September 18, 2013

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service says it seized 47,372 pieces of contraband worth more than N1 billion between January and August this year.

Mr Uche Ejesieme, the spokesman for the zone, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that 45, 993 poultry products were seized during the period.

Ejesieme said that he could not immediately provide the number of seizures in 2012, but said the 2013 figure was higher.

He said that the unit apprehended 181 suspects connected with the seizures made this year.

The spokesman said that the unit’s zero tolerance for contraband was responsible for the huge seizures.

According to him, Mr Isa Nuhu, the unit’s Comptroller has introduced new strategies on intelligence and information gathering in the bid to curb activities of smugglers.

“The number and quantity of seizure are higher than those of last year.

“It is an indication that the Customs will not relent in its efforts to suppress smuggling to its barest minimum,’’ Ejesieme said.

He appealed to members of the public to provide useful information that would help the Customs to curb smuggling.

Ejesieme said that such information would be handled with utmost secrecy.

He said that the Customs was working with some rural communities to get information on routes being used by smugglers.

The spokesman commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Abdullahi Dikko, for motivating the workforce through the provision of functional patrol vehicles, remuneration, training and re-training of officers.