The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘D’ Headquarters in Bauchi has seized contraband and smuggled items valued at over N110 million within one month.
The Comptroller Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘D’ Headquarters Bauchi, Abubakar Umar made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing.
Umar explained that within the timeframe of one month with which he assumed duty as the comptroller of the unit, the unit has intercepted and seized prohibited and uncustomed goods including “448x 25 Jerry cans (11,200) litres of premium motor spirit, 192 Bales and Two sacks of Second hand clothing, One Hundred and Forty cartons of foreign spaghetti, 125 pairs of desert and jungle boots, 47 bags of Foreign parboiled rice of 50 kg each, and Pangolin scales (9.40)kg.”
He revealed that the “cumulative duty paid value of all the seized items stands at One Hundred and Ten Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Two Naira Only, (N110,499,352).”
Umar emphasised the unit’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, saying that the seized pangolin scales would be handed over to the relevant agency in accordance with customs standard operating procedures for further action.
He said, “The premium motor spirit will be auctioned to the public and amounts accrued therefrom will be paid into the Federation account.”
He stated, “The current low cases of smuggling activities recorded during the period under review especially in the area of illegal trade in wild life, controlled drugs and narcotics as well as premium spirit is as a result of intensified patrol, intelligence-backed enforcement, commitment and professionalism of the Officers and men of the unit.
Our Operative’s actions are in accordance with all extant laws as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, particularly sections 226 and 245.
The Unit’s anti-smuggling Operations have been strengthened through increased collaboration with other security agencies and other regulatory government agencies.”
The comptroller insisted that the partnership had facilitated the exchange of intelligence and allowed for joint operations to dismantle smuggling networks operating in the zone.
He enjoined traders within the zone to remain law abiding and desist from illegal trade insisting that there will be no hiding place for those who engage in illegal activities.
KUKURUKU ,reports that Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘D’ Headquarters Bauchi covers nine states of Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa.
