Customs FOU Zone B Kaduna rakes in seizures valued at N1.97bn, others from Jan to Feb.16
Comptroller Dalha Wada Chedi has announced successes in the Customs Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’Kaduna Command between January 1st to February 16, 2024.
Addressing media executive at the Command Headquarters on Friday, February 16, 2024, he said “The operatives of the Unit have for the period under review remained resolute in the fight against smuggling thereby making several seizures of 27 different items ranging from used foreign shoes, foreign parboiled rice, Second hand clothing, expired milk and juice powder, among others.”
According to him, “On Wednesday, 24 January 2024 at about 2200hrs, the operatives of the unit intercepted One (1) truck conveying One Hundred and Seventy-Nine (179) Bags of Tiger Nuts (50Kg each) based on intelligence along Maigatari/Malamfatori/Birniwa axis of Jigawa State.
Continuing, Comptroller Chedi averred that “On the 3rd February 2024, the operatives of the Unit arrested Three (3) Trucks along Gumel-Kano road in Jigawa State. The arrest was made following information shared by the intelligence network of the NCS-Headquarters, Abuja on the suspicion that they were conveying prohibited items. Hundred percent (100%) physically examination was conducted at the premises of Kano/Jigawa Command and the Three (3) trucks were found to contained 5076 Cartons of Foreign soap, 703 bales of Foreign second-hand clothing, 925 cartons of macaroni, 320 bales of foreign textiles and 12 Jumbo sacks of foreign used shoes.
“Two (2) suspects were arrested and detained at the Kano/Jigawa Command in connection with the seizures and they have been granted administrative bail pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
“Also on 11 February 2024 at about 2200hrs, the operatives of the Unit acting on credible intelligence along Tsafe-Funtua Road in Zamfara State intercepted One (1) truck on the suspicion of improper importation. Further examination revealed that the truck was conveying 75 cartons of expired foreign jolly juice powder and 8 sacks of foreign expired milk powder that were found to have expired since 2019 thus unfit for human consumption. The expired milk was concealed with sacks of dried hides & skin. These are expired, unused and contaminated items which if not intercepted by our operatives would cause havoc to the society in general.
“Other items seized within this period are: 237 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50Kg each), 1837 cartons of foreign spaghetti, macaroni and couscous, 1707 jerry-cans of premium Motor Spirits (PMS) 25litres each, 3459 cartons/sachets of Amoxicillin, Artesunate, 500 Mg, 35 cartons of flame lighters, 2089 cartons of foreign dates, 142 cartons of YES Cigarrettes, 810 pieces of foreign used tyres, many vehicles deposited at various Customs formations in the Zone, among others.
“The Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the Seizures made within the period under review is One Billion, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Five Million, Six Hundred and Six Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Five Naira and Ninety-Six Kobo(#1, 975,657,865.96) only.
He noted that “It is important to mention that the foreign dates and the Tiger-Nuts by their nature are edible and perishable goods would be auctioned in line with the provisions of Paragraph 15 (b) of the Schedule of the Nigeria Customs Service Act No. 35, 2023.
While noting that “These unprecedented seizures were made as a result of contravention of several sections of NCS Act 2023 and breach of extant Presidential directives on border closure,” Chedi stressed that “It is a fact that things are difficult for common men in this country, despite this; smugglers are adding to the suffering of the citizens by smuggling these expired and unhealthy items that are injurious to health and wellbeing of the people.
According to him, going forward, “The Unit is an enforcement arm of the Service that will continue to arrest situations that may harm the citizens of this Country. I want the general public to know that the personnel of the NCS are Nigerians too and we share in their pains at this critical time. However, the operatives of the Unit will not relent until smugglers are out of business. We will not be tired in our twenty-four hours and seven days round the clock enforcement drive to suppress smuggling.
He also enjoined the general public to be on our side in fighting the menace of smuggling which undermines government goal for revenue generation and aims at compromising the health of unsuspecting Nigerians. This is a fight that we all must give priority to for the president to succeed and deliver on the renewed hope agenda to Nigerians.
Before concluding, he used the medium to thank the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management for their morale boosting leadership and encouragement to our Officers and Men towards achieving our mandate.
