By Ifeyinwa Obi

Federal Operations  Unit of  Zone A  of the Nigerian Customs Service have seized contraband goods worth N1.4 billion between January and  November 2010.

An Area Controller of Customs, Mr. Emmanuel Kane, who disclosed this  while conducting  journalists round the impounded items, stated that the unit devised a 24-hour monitoring of the ports and borders to ensure enforcement of relevant rules by all stakeholders.

He said: “In applying  our principle of responsible enforcement, we are bent on preventing the grave consequences of illicit trade from rearing its ugly head. You will agree with me that it is expedient to condemn smuggling just as we equally condemn other societal evils.”

He further stated that the seizures comprised of vehicles and general goods made up of textile materials and second hand items including  tyres, refrigerators, clothes and shoes.

Other seized items were  vegetable oil and  rice. The comptroller also stated that the Command had realised a total of N243,043,774.04 from payments and fees within the period.

Kane also commended the effort of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, for his effort to see that the operation units do not lack in  logistics  for optimum performance.

He said: “The current management is doing its best to make the service conform to the best standard. They have left no stone unturned to wage relentless war against fraudulent activities.”