By Godwin Oritse

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Custom Service said it has seized prohibited goods worth N1.54 billion within the last six months.

Speaking during the presentation of the half year report of the command in Lagos, Mr Victor Dimka, Acting Controller of the command noted the seizures comprises 1,585 units of assorted goods, including vehicles, textiles materials, rice, vegetable oil , used tyres and other sundry prohibited items with Duty Paid Value (DPV).

He said that the report shows a remarkable improvement over the achievements of the command during the corresponding period in 2010.

He noted that 930 seizures with total DPV of N623 million were made between January and June of 2010, while the command secured the conviction of five suspects,

Dimka disclosed that smugglers now resort to the use of waterways and creeks to perpetuate their nefarious acts, but added that officers and men of the command were equal to the task as three seizures were recorded on Agbara waterways between April and June 2011.

“A truck load of textile materials was equally brought in by my vigilant officers along the Ibadan expressway axis on June 18, 2011. These seizures alone are worth over N35 million DPV,” he said.

“Similarly,” he continued, “only last week, eagle-eyed operatives of the command also intercepted a large truck containing 10,000 bags of frozen chicken. The truck was intercepted by the operatives around the Sagamu expressway in Ogun State on its way to Benin.

“Even though the Duty Paid Value of the seized contraband was still been ascertained as at press time, it was confirmed that the frozen chicken has a street value of about N5,500 per bag and it was said to have originated from France.”

The Acting Controller also lamented the fact that despite the efforts of the Nigeria Customs in sensitizing Nigerians on the dangers of smuggling, some individuals still see the trade as their only means of livelihood.