The Federal Operation Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Custom Service, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, has intercepted not less than 40 seizures valued at N200.9million, between June 13 and July 10, 2017.
Among items seized were Tramadol (225/120mg), vegetable oil, frozen poultry products, parboiled rice, spaghetti, smuggled vehicles, used tyres, among others.
Briefing Journalists on Wednesday, the Comptroller,Mohammed Uba Garba explained that smugglers used different methods of concealment to bring the contraband into the country.
He also disclosed that the unit recovered about N28.9million from duty payment, adding that a total of 7 containers were seized based on information received.
Comptroller Garba said 15 suspects have been arrested in respect of the smuggled products, but disclosed that some of them have been released under administrative bail.
He said: “We have seized 7 containers that contravened Customs law by means of false declaration and breach of import prohibition list by trade. While three of the containers carried 5,014 pieces of used tyres, used fridges, used double electric burner, the other containers carried 499 cartons of Eva Soap as against poultry incubator declared in the SGD”
According tho him, some of the goods seized were dangerous to health, adding that examples were a container of unregistered drugs, container of concealed Tramadol (225/120mg), frozen poultry products and many others.
Some of the seized goods were handed over to respective agencies for further investigation.
Speaking on the harmful nature of some of the drugs, , Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor, Director of Investigation, NAFDAC and Chairman of Task Force, Enforcement on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs said they were unfit for human consumption.
He said Custommen have helped in confiscating drugs worth N9billion in January which were destroyed.
