From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘B’, Kaduna, Dalha Wada Chedi, on Monday, vowed that no amount of sponsored blackmail or illegal demonstrations would deter the service from doing its job.
Briefing newsmen on the activities of the unit between February 17 and March 28, 2024, at Kangiwa House, Kaduna, the senior customs officer said that operatives of the unit have remained resolute, committed, and vigilant in the fight against smuggling in its area of responsibility.
To him, “to those die-hard smugglers that sponsor mobs to attack our operatives and/or organize to stage illegal demonstrations against us that they cannot and will not discourage and deter us from carrying out our job.
“It is one of two options, either these smugglers turn a new leaf and embrace legitimate trade, or have us deal with and face the wrath of the law and the full consequences”, he said.
According to him, his team made 98 seizures of 21 different items which included contraband foreign parboiled rice, used foreign shoes, petroleum products, vehicles (means of conveyance), and pasta, among others, worth N769.4 million within the period under review.
“Of particular note was the seizure of 372 bags of offensive rice that were intercepted by operatives of the Unit and deposited at the Kwara Area Command.
“Our eagle eye Officers and Men are constantly responding to the ever newer changing tactics of smugglers, who deploy ever new methods in concealing smuggled rice in local flour sacks to disguise the smuggled rice as flour.
“It is also noteworthy that we combine effective intelligence networks in combating and exposing these rice smugglers. I said earlier that we remain resolute and will not relent as there is no amount of trick, blackmail, or orchestrated attacks that will dampen our resolve”, he added.
He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team for their usual support and encouragement to officers and men of the unit and the service in general.
Some of the itemised seized items include 698 50 kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 367 cartons of foreign spaghetti, macaroni, couscous, 136 bales of foreign secondhand clothing, 715 25 litres jerry cans of premium motor spirit, 65 25 litres of jerry cans of foreign refined vegetable oil, 12 units of used vehicles, and four units of means of conveyance, among others.