Customs FOU Zone B Intercepts Tramadol, Machetes, Others Worth N350m In 2 Months

By Chinonye Anyatonwu

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ of the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS) , Kaduna, intercepted 119 packs of Unregistered Tramadol , 225mg of Tramaking , 147 pieces of Foreign Jack Knives and 6 Cartons of Foreign Machetes among other illegal goods, worth N305, 710,544.55k, between January and February, 2023

In a statement made available by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Superintendent of Customs , I. Sulaiman, stated that the Controller, Comptroller Musa Ibrahim Jalo, achieved the feat as part of reinvigorated anti smuggling efforts he put in place which motivated the officers to effect the seizures.

According to Compt. Jalo, the seized items was said to include ,9 Units of Used Vehicles, 2 Units of Means of Conveyance, 724 Bags of Foreign Rice (50Kg each), , 163 Jerrycans of Vegetable Oil (25 litres each) and 646 Cartons of Foreign Spaghetti and Macaroni

The 130 seizures were made at different locations in the zone within the first two months of this year.

Others are 90 Bales of Foreign Second Hand Clothing, 569 packs of Foreign unregistered Pharmaceutical Products, 17 sacks of Foreign Second Hand Shoes, 7 Cartons of Foreign Cigarettes, , 50 Cartons of Foreign Soap and 635 Kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (25 litres each).

The seized items were arrested in contravention of the Federal Government Policies regarding imports and exports and were deposited at various Customs Formations in the Zone.

In line with the extant laws and guidelines, the Premium Motor Spirit was auctioned as directed by the NCS Headquarters and the proceeds remitted to the coppers of the Federal Government.

Comptroller Jalo in his reaction to the seizures , said that the Unit despite the feat has stepped up on the fight against smuggling across the border areas to make more arrests and cause financial loss to the smugglers.

He reiterates the commitment of the operatives of the Unit to their renewed efforts in the fight against smugglers.

Compt. Jalo called on the communities around the border areas to provide useful information that will assist the Unit in achieving its mandate and also consider the operatives of the Service as implementers of Federal Government fiscal policies that are meant to improve and protect industries thereby creating employments and boost the economy of Nigeria..