Customs Compliance Team seizes N93m contraband

Comptroller of Customs, Ahmed Azarema

The Compliance Team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it seized contraband with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N93.7 million in the course of its operations.

The Coordinator of the Compliance Team, Ahmed Azarema, disclosed this while displaying the seized contraband to journalists in Owerri on Tuesday at the Imo/Abia Command of the service.

He said the compliance team, attached to the office of the Comptroller-General of Customs, confiscated 1,028bags of 20 kg foreign rice with a DPV of N8.22 million concealed with motor spare parts.

Azarema said 1,258 bags of 50kg of foreign rice with a DPV of N74.8 million and 111 bales of second hand clothing with a DPV of N10.65 million was also seized by the team.

He said all the items were seized along Aba/Umuahia/Port Harcourt axis adding that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seized goods.

Azarema observed that because of the Yuletide season, smugglers are more desperate and always want to skim their way through but would always fail because of the dedication and ingenuity of the customs personnel.

He, therefore, charged Nigerians against ferrying contraband in and across the country, but to engage in legitimate businesses to avoid their goods being confiscated.