By Daniel Gumm

THE Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted various contraband goods valued at over one hundred million (100 million) Naira in the past two weeks.

The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Dan Ugo, stated this Monday, while conducting press men round the seized items.

Prominent among the items seized were jumbo bales of second-hand clothing, used hand-bags and shoes, used tyres, poultry products, mosquito repellant coils as well as used fridges.

Other items seized included two (2) units of brand new Toyota Camry cars and an SUV, which were ostensibly cleared as used vehicles.

The CAC F.O.U. ‘A’ explained that most of the items listed above falls under schedule three (3) of the Revised Import Prohibition list of the Common External Tariff. He emphasised that the Federal Government of Nigeria in its wisdom placed some of these items on ban in consideration of the health hazards associated with them, while protecting local industries.

He further stated that the latest circular from the Customs headquarters on zero tolerance to importation of contraband goods, particularly poultry products would be aggressively pursued, reiterating the operational readiness of the anti-smuggling outfit to combat smuggling and facilitate legitimate trade.

The CAC stated: “There is a renewed vigour in our approach to anti-smuggling which is intelligence based.” He attributed the successes recorded to the modalities put in place by the unit to checkmate activities of some unpatriotic elements whose attitudes, of non-compliance with the Federal Government’s fiscal policies have been a clog in the wheel of our economic progress.

He, however, vowed to sustain the war on smuggling in compliance with the admonishments of the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi lnde Dikko (CFR) and his management team, calling on all Nigerians to shun acts of smuggling in view of its effects on our economy and as well as its security implications.