The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted camouflage military uniforms, foreign parboiled rice, marijuana, opium substance, premium motor spirit (PMS), among others worth over N628million between March and April 2023.
Comptroller Musa Ibrahim revealed this during a press briefing on the Unit’s activities in Kaduna, yesterday.
The Customs boss who took over the mantle of leadership at the Unit on January 27th, 2023, said “during the period under review, our operatives made a total of 188 seizures of 17 different prohibited items with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N628,286,660 only at different locations in the Zone.”
According to him, on 6th April 2023, operatives of the Unit while on credible intelligence intercepted One (1) Used Mitsubishi Canter with Registration Number AKR 10 XG conveying Sacks of Cannabis Sativa otherwise known as Marijuana concealed with Bags of Cassava flakes (Garri) and Sawdust along Bungudu-Tsafe Road in Zamfara State. However, after physical examination, the vehicle was found to contain 46 sacks of Marijuana, with a street value of N2, 069,144.40K.
“Similarly, on 23rd March 2023; our operatives arrested a suspicious white illegal narcotic substance together with Two (2) male suspects and One (1) locally made pistol in the course of our anti-smuggling operations at Maigatari axis of Jigawa State. The suspected illegal substance together with the male suspects was brought to the Office for further action.”
“The officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kaduna State Command were invited to carry out a test on the suspected illegal substance to determine its true nature. The test further proved the illegal substance to be Opium Substance with a total weight of 422g. The street value of the substance is N31, 018,568.98K only.”
“The 422 grams of Opium Substance together with the suspects and 1 locally made pistol were handed over to the NDLEA Kaduna State Command on 30th March 2023 for further investigation.”
In another development, on 25th April 2023 at about 1130hrs, the Unit’s operatives while on stop and search operations also arrested One (1) Used Volkswagen Golf driven by a Nigerien citizen along Jibia-Katsina Road. During the operation, the patrol officers observed and identified a sack in the vehicle that was later opened, and assorted Military camouflaged shirts, trousers, and T-shirts were found. After further examination and interrogation, the driver was identified to be a Nigerien citizen and the suspected uniforms were to be delivered to an unknown person in Katsina.
“The uniforms were counted to be 22 pairs of Foreign Tactical Military Camouflage Shirts and Trousers and another 25 pieces of Military Camouflage T-Shirts. It should be noted that the seized items (Foreign Tactical Camouflage Clothing) together with the suspect have been handed over to the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) in adherence with the collaborations between the two agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.
Other seized items were; 140 Jerry cans (25 litres each) of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) with DPV of N2,746,639; 1,147 Jerrycans of PMS (25 litres each) worth N2,167,657; 46 sacks of Marijuana; 37 units of Used Vehicles, 5 vehicles as means of conveyance; 2,109 bags of Foreign Parboiled rice (50kg each) 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; 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.
The Customs boss expressed delight at renewed efforts of the Unit which has been recognised by the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) CFR and his management team by giving the Unit a Letter of Commendation.
While opining that the morale of the officers and men of the Unit have been enhanced following the Commendation Letter, he reiterated his commitment to enforcing the Federal Government Fiscal policies in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
He, however, solicited the support of host communities around the border areas and encouraged them to continue to providing Customs with useful information that will assist operatives in impounding prohibited goods in the interest of the nation.