ABUJA: The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, said it intercepted smuggled goods valued N23.07 million here the other day.
A statement by the unit’s spokesman, Uche Ejesieme, said the goods, which consist of frozen poultry products, schools and ladies’ bags, were intercepted on Thursday.
“The anti-smuggling drive of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, received a major boost following the seizure of smuggled frozen poultry products concealed in a specially-built compartment of a truck.
“The unit also seized 82 bales of used and new ladies’ bags and school bags,” the statement quoted Mr. Madugu as saying.
It said the Lagos Roving Patrol Team of the unit, headed by an Assistant Comptroller of Customs Adamu Abubakar, intercepted a white Mercedes Benz truck along Ajao Estate-Oshodi Expressway, suspected to be laden with the smuggled goods.
The statement said that the truck, with the suspects, was brought to the unit for further investigation.
“Physical examination revealed that the truck had 555 cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products.
“The controller further confirmed that another surveillance team, Seme axis, on Dececember 17, 2015, traced a large consignment of contraband goods from Abule Osun waterside to a nearby warehouse.
“Eighty-two bales of used and new ladies’ bags/school bags in five trucks were driven to the government warehouse, Ikeja,’’ the statement said.
It said that the two suspects would help in further investigation to apprehend the kingpins for prosecution.
The statement said Mr. Madugu commended the resilience of the teams, describing the detection of the concealments in a false compartment of the truck as “quite symbolic”.
