The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘B’, Katsina on Monday disclosed that it impounded 51 vehicles and contraband valued at N120,686,000.00 between October and this month.
The unit confirmed that six persons had been arrested and detained in connection with the seizures.
Displaying the seized items before journalists, the FOU Comptroller, Sarkin Mustapha, said the seizures were based on intelligence gathering efforts of the officers and men of the Service on patrol during the period two-month period.
He listed the seized items as 1,534 bags of rice, 86 bags of sugar, 145 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 3,130 cartons of spaghetti, 50 bales of second-hand clothing and 51 vehicles used to convey the smuggled items into the country.
The FOU Comptroller explained: “Presently, we have about three defendants that are under detention here. In our Kaduna headquarters, we have three defendants as well.
“Normally, when we arrest them, we ask them to get a lawyer and a surety so that we can give them administrative bail pending the time we need them for prosecution”, Mustapha added.
While describing incessant attacks on Customs officers in some states as detestable, the Customs officer restated the commitment of the unit to making sure that the officers and men of the Service continue to defend themselves in the face of the unwarranted attacks.
He maintained that zone would not relent on its efforts to curb smuggling which he described as an unpatriotic act that must be discouraged.
Mustapha advised members of the public to conduct their businesses within the ambit of the law as Customs officers and men will not relent in their efforts at ensuring that smugglers are arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
