Customs Impounds N2.7billion Contraband, Arrests 316 Suspects

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has recorded 467 seizures worth N2.7 billion in an intense battle against smugglers.

Also, no fewer than 316 suspects have been arrested by the Zone C in connection with smuggling of contraband into Nigeria.

Besides Imo State capital, Owerri, which serves as its operational headquarters, Enugu, Abia, Delta and Edo States are also in Zone C.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Owerri, Imo State, Comptroller Victor David Dimka, who disclosed this in a statement said the featwas in line with its responsibility of nipping all forms of smuggling activities both in the South-East and South-South zones of the federation in the bud.

According to him, the 467 seizures of illegally imported items have an overall Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2.7 billion in year 2015.

The CAC revealed that while 316 suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling while one suspect was successfully convicted in court. He added that not less than 23 cases are now in court for the same purpose of which no fewer than seven cases were won by NCS.

Dimka revealed that underpayment recovered for some items stood at N130 million. According to the Customs chief, an analysis of the seizures made within the year involved 343 vehicles; 378 bales of bags/suitcases with 466 pieces; 6,472 pieces of imported used tyres; 8,855 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products; and 2,758 bales of imported textile materials.

Others were 10 cartons of foreign beverages/juice; 2,584 bags of 50kg imported rice; 6,747 pairs of foot wears; 45 cartons of electrical/electronic equipment; 108 cartons of foreign vegetable oil; 1,387 packages of foreign furniture with 126 pieces; and 412 cartons of foreign soaps and detergents.