The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it arrested 88 suspects between January and May 2014 for various offences ranging from importation of prohibited goods, forged allocation papers, counterfeit customs examination report sheet among others.
Of the 88 suspects arrested, 14 cases are still pending in court, while others are being remanded in prison.
Making the disclosure in his office recently, Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Isa Nuhu said the unit also recorded massive seizures of prohibited goods with a Duty Paid Value of over N746 million.
He attributed the high seizure record to resolve of the unit to strengthen its mode of operation through the use of intelligence gathering and ICT in line with the global best practices and world Customs Organization Standards (WCO).
He added that the success recorded by the unit was also made possible with the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team through the provision of operational tools and motivation of officers.
While advising smugglers to have a re-think and channel their resources towards a more meaningful investment rather than smuggling, the customs boss pledged that the unit will always remain several steps ahead of the antics of smugglers to ensure that their nefarious activities are decimated.
He stated that the unit will continue to live up to its rating as a flagship Unit and hub in anti-smuggling activities.
Some of the items seized by the Unit include Bags of 50kg illegally imported parboiled rice, Cartons of foreign frozen poultry product, used tyres and other general goods.
Nuhu called on the media to continually sensitize the public on the dangers and consequences of smuggling.
He said “we call on well meaning Nigerians to oblige us with useful information about smugglers. Your identity will always be treated as confidential. As you know, the war on smuggling cannot be left for NCS alone. It ought to be a collective responsibility”.
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