Customs in Owerri rattles smugglers :  Seizes Tramadol, contraband worth N529million

Customs in Owerri rattles smugglers :  Seizes Tramadol, contraband worth N529million

* Arrests 6 suspects

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri has defeated smugglers through superior intelligence in its operations, as the Unit   intercepted unregistered pharmacuetical products, tramadol and other contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N529,056,456 million.

The prohibited items were seized
between January 1st and February 28th, 2022.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Compt Ali Ibrahim disclosed these details while showcasing the seized items in Owerri, yesterday.

Compt Ibrahim revealed that six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures during the period under review, but were granted administrative bail, as investigation is on-going.

According to him :
“640 cartons of unregistered pharmaceuticals worth N192 million, conveyed in a DAF heavy duty truck and one J5 transit bus were intercepted along Okada/Benin axis.”

The CAC added :
“1,650 bales of used clothings valued at N165 million were intercepted along Umuikaa/Aba road while 181 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice worth over N7.2 million were intercepted along Akwa-Ibom/Calabar axis.

“Also seized were 2,239 pieces of used pneumatic tyres valued at N4.5 million and 36,000 litres of smuggled petroluem products  worth N3.6 million.”

He went on :
“Other seizures include eight exotic vehicles without relevant Customs documents, including three Toyota Hilux of 2017, 2020 and 2021 models; one Land Cruiser Prado 2016 model ; one Toyota Highlander 2014 and one Toyota Venza 2016 model among others”.

Speaking further, he thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) and his management team for their unwavering support and motivation while commiserating with families and loved ones of four officers who died while on duty.

He informed :
“The Service is synergising with other security agencies to ensure continuous safety of officers and men.
We thank management of the Service under the leadership of our Comptroller-General, without whom these noteworthy achievements would not have been possible.

” I also commend our officers and men for their patriotic commitment to duty, even in the face of attacks. I sympathize with families and loved ones of our officers who paid the supreme price in serving their father-land.

“Similarly, I urge all economic saboteurs to turn a new leaf from their illegal business, as we are more resolute to ensure untiring implementation of Government’s fiscal policy within our areas of coverage without any deterrence”.

The CAC called on traditional and religious leaders, as well as other well-meaning Nigerians to advise their subjects to desist from attacking security personnel in the interest of peace and progress.