THE Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has collected a total of N 281,93 million as revenue for the month of April, 2012.

In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs

Ernest Olottah, said that the Area Command arrested nine suspects and seized 37 various goods with duty paid value (DPV) of N20, 54 million.

Some of these seized items include textiles, rice, poultry product, vehicles, vegetable oil and spirits.

The suspects, according to Olottah, have been released on bail, pending their arraignment in court.

Meanwhile, the NCS Western Marine Command (WMC) says it has commenced round-the-clock operations to further check and reduce smuggling activities.

According to the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Comptroller Makus Filibus, the round-the-clock operations accounted for the arrest of nine suspected smugglers and the seizure of various goods with DPV of N67, 993million.

The seized items include petroleum products, rice, frozen chicken and foot wears.

A breakdown of the items shows that 2,350 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at N227, 950. 00 and 150, 000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) valued at N23.4million while the boat used in smuggling the items was valued at N18million.

Others were 200 cartons of frozen chicken, 168 bags of rice valued at N616, 256. 00 and 213 assorted foot wears valued at N20.882 million.

While the total estimated DPV of the impounded items was put at N67.993million, the estimated duty was put at N4.257million.