Customs Intercepts 11 Containers Of Contrabands

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted 11 containers of prohibited goods valued at N100 million along the Owerri-Port Harcourt road. 

The Spokesman, Mr Wale Adeniyi, in a statement issued on Sunday, said that the goods were intercepted at the weekend by a special anti-smuggling squad of Zone “C’’ Federal Operations Unit, Owerri. 

The statement said that the controller of the unit, Mr Abdul Amadi, suspected fundamental irregularities in the clearance of the containers which were falsely declared as personal effects.

Items found in the containers included new household and office furniture with accessories and textile materials.

Others were assorted wines, canned foods, vegetable oil, tissue papers and other supermarket items on the import prohibition list, the statement said.

He re-affirmed the Customs commitment to re-energising the nation’s economy by fighting smugglers to a standstill.

“The stakes are too high now. With the general elections around the corner, we have stepped up our vigilance to ensure that arms and other dangerous items are not imported into the country.”

 “Economic saboteurs who bring prohibited goods must also be made to lose their investments,’’ the Customs said in the statement.

 The statement said that the capacity of the Customs in confronting smugglers had been greatly enhanced through the acquisition of more patrol vehicles and the increasing level of morale among Customs men.