The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, said it has succeeded in seizing 161 various contraband goods with duty paid value of N351,508,658.56 million from November to December 2022.

Recall that the FOU Zone ‘B’ comprises 10 states within the Northwest and North Central geopolitical zones with Kaduna as its administrative headquarters.

The Customs Comptroller of the Unit, Al-Bashir Hamisu, who made this known in Kaduna on Tuesday, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman said the Unit has seized: 2,114 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50Kg each), 126 Bales & Sacks of Foreign Second Hand Clothing, 72 Sacks of Cannabis Sativa, 65x25Kg Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice, 818 Cartons of Foreign Spaghetti, Macaroni & Couscous, 8 Vehicles, 102 Cartons of Foreign Carotone Body Cream, 102 Cartons of Foreign Eva Soap, 69x5Litres of Foreign Vegetable Oil, and 30 x 25Litres of Foreign Vegetable Oil.

Other items include Sacks of Foreign Second Hand Shoes, 3 Sacks of Foreign Tomato Paste, 13 Sacks of Foreign Hides and Skin (Ponmo), 113 Bundles of Foreign Textiles, 10 Cartons of Foreign Flavoured Chewing Gum, 7x25Kg Bags of Foreign Flour, 55 Pieces of Foreign Used Tyres, 438x25litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 87x50Kg Bags of Foreign Fertilizer.

In line with the Service’s mandate of curtailing the illegal importation of intoxicants, Comptroller Al-Bashir Hamisu also said that the unit has made what he described as a “spectacular seizure” of 72 sacks of Marijuana brought to the fore another trick by smugglers and means of concealment.

“In this case, the smuggler concealed the Marijuana inside sacks of Cassava Flour (popularly known as Garri). The Operatives of the Unit with the aid of an informant intercepted the Marijuana along the Sokoto-Zamfara axis and brought it to the Office.” He said.

He said that the confiscated Marijuana will soon be handed over to the Commandant National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kaduna State Command, in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration.

According to him, the Unit is gradually achieving its target of suppressing 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 which shows an increase when compared with duty paid value of N1, 319,332,763.00 in the corresponding year of 2021 .” he added.

Commending the tireless efforts of the Customs Operatives, Comptroller Hamisu attributed the Unit’s success to its sharing of intelligence with other sister agencies and effective performance management.

He further enjoined citizens to volunteer information to stem the menace of smuggling in Nigeria.

In the same vein, the Comptroller warned the smugglers to stay off the red zones during the Yuletide season, “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 added.

He also commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), and his Management Team for their motivation and support to the Unit towards discharging their duties.