The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B Command, Kaduna, has said that from November to December 2022, 161 different illicit items totaling N351,508,658.56 million was successfully seized by the unit.
FOU Zone B consists of 10 states in the Northwest and North Central geopolitical zones, with Kaduna serving as its administrative center. The anti-smuggling operations of the unit are concentrated in the Niger, Kogi, Kwara, and FCT regions of the North Central geopolitical zones.
The command’s area controller, Al-Bashir Hamisu, announced this in Kaduna on Tuesday.
According to a statement from the unit’s public relations officer, Isah Sulaiman, the unit also seized 65x25Kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 65x50Kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 126 bales and sacks of foreign second-hand clothing, and 72 sacks of cannabis sativa.
Additionally, 818 foreign containers of spaghetti, macaroni, and couscous, 102 containers of foreign Carotone body cream, 102 containers of foreign Eva soap, 69 containers of foreign 5 liter vegetable oil, and 30 containers of foreign 25 liter vegetable oil.
Other items include 4 Sacks of foreign used shoes, 3 Sacks of foreign tomato paste, 13 Sacks of foreign hides and skin (Ponmo), 113 Bundles of foreign textiles, 10 Cartons of foreign-flavored chewing gum, 7 Sacks of foreign flour, 55 Pieces of foreign used tires, 438 Sacks of foreign flour, and 87 Sacks of foreign fertilizer.
According to Controller Al-Bashir Hamisu, the unit accomplished a “spectacular seizure” of 72 bags of marijuana, bringing to light more smugglers’ techniques and methods of concealment.
This was done in accordance with the Service’s mission of stopping the illicit importation of intoxicants.
In the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, he said, the marijuana that was seized would shortly be delivered to the Kaduna State Command Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
He maintained that the Unit is slowly but surely succeeding in its goal of reducing smuggling within the Zone; “it is on record that the Unit made a total 949 interceptions/seizures at different locations in the Zone from 1 January to 20 December 2022 with combined DPV of N2,345,155,577.38 in contrast to the seizures made in the year 2021 with duty paid value of N1, 319,332,763.00.” he added.
Controller AB Hamisu commended the arduous work of the Customs Operatives and credited the command’s success to its intelligence-sharing with other sister agencies and efficient performance management.
To combat the smuggling threat in Nigeria, he also encouraged residents to provide information.
Similar to how he advised the smugglers to avoid the red zones throughout the holiday season, he added; “I want them to know that our operatives are on red alert and vigilant to tame smuggling activities during the festive period with a view of arresting and prosecuting them.”
He also expressed his appreciation to Col. Hameed Ali, the Controller General of Customs, and the Service Management team for motivating and supporting the Unit in carrying out its responsibilities.
