CUSTOMS SERVICE ZONE C IMPOUNDS CONTRABAND GOODS WORTH OVER #300 MILLION

Reporter : UGONNA AGU

The Nigeria Customs Service says it has impounded contraband items worth over three hundred and sixty-eight million naira between November 24, 2020 and January 6, 2021.

The Comptroller of the agency in-charge of Federal Operation Unit Zone C Owerri, Mr. Yusuf Lawal, made this known in Benin, Edo State while briefing journalists on the achievements of the zone.

Mr. Lawal, while displaying the impounded contraband items, said they were seized at fifteen different locations in the zone.

The items on display included a black Toyota Hilux van and a black bullet proof Toyota Land Cruiser SUV, which the owners could not present customs duty clearance papers.

The comptroller announced that the unit also impounded four other vehicles and 2,215 bags of imported foreign rice, which were carefully concealed in bags of beans, maize, millet and groundnut.

The Customs Zonal boss decried the desperate efforts of the smugglers to sabotage the effort of the Federal Government in making life easy and better for the citizens of the country.

He explained that three arrests were made during the seizures but they were released on administrative bail and called on smugglers to desist from the nefarious act or face the wrath of the law when caught.

The Comptroller pointed out that the unit would forward its findings to the headquarters in Abuja after investigations.

The Federal Operation Unit Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service comprises eleven states of South East and South South with its headquarters in Owerri, Imo State.