The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, has seized 599 bales of second-hand clothes, seven sacks of second-hand women’s bags, 43 cartons of cigarettes and other contraband in Sokoto.
The Acting Area Comptroller, Mr Halliru Isa-Abdullahi, told newsmen on Thursday that the items had a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N722 million.
Isa-Abdullahi listed other confiscated items to include seven cartons of coffee, unregistered pharmaceutical products, 100 packages of quinine and 500 packages of amodiaquine drugs.
According to him, the other items included 140 packages of paracetamol, 300 packages of anti-cold medication, a carton of analgesic injections, four cartons of Dynewell syrup and tablets, and one carton of Clear Cold.
Isa-Abdullahi said the seizure was in line with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, which emphasised consolidation, collaboration and innovation in anti-smuggling operations to secure the borders and protect the nation’s economy.
He said the suspects abandoned the vehicle after discovering that operatives were trailing them, adding that some repairs were carried out on the truck before it was conveyed to Sokoto.
The acting area comptroller explained that the command’s sustained efforts to suppress smuggling had continued to yield positive results despite insecurity in some parts of the states.
“Operatives of the command ensured the blocking and suppression of smuggling, which successfully led to the seizure of a used DAF truck used to convey the contraband items into the country,” Isa-Abdullahi said.
He urged Nigerians to support the NCS by providing credible information that could help eradicate smuggling in the country.
He noted that curbing smuggling would prevent people from consuming unregistered drugs that pose serious health risks to citizens.
Isa-Abdullahi added that eradicating smuggling would boost the economy and enable the Federal Government to provide social amenities for citizens.
He warned smugglers and their collaborators to desist from the illicit activity, stressing that operatives would continue to stay a step ahead of them, regardless of their tactics.
