ABUJA: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it arrests 246 smugglers and seized 7519 illegal imports worth N8.79 billion during its anti-smuggling campaign in 2014.
This is contained in the service’s annual report released by the Enforcement, investigation and inspection department in Abuja.
According to the report, out of the arrests, 26 persons have been convicted during the year under review.
It also stated that the seizure during the year decreased by 697, while the Duty Paid Value (DPV) on seized goods increased by N285.73 million from N8.50 billion recorded in 2013.
A commodity analysis of the report showed that 241,278 units of 50kg bags of rice worth N1.41 billion in 2,719 were seized recorded during the year.
The report showed that 1,702 vehicles worth N2.14 billion were seized in 1,672 operations, while 115,216 cartons of poultry products worth N622.52 million were involved in 510 operations during the year.
It added that 1.75 million dollars, an equivalent of N281.26 million, was seized, while 38,628 bales and sacks of textile materials worth N743 million were seized in 338 operations.
The report said other goods worth N3.66 billion were seized in 2,265 operations; 1,030 bundles/pairs of camouflage as well as 122 units of arms and 32,622 rounds of ammunition were recorded.
According to the report, the Service has recorded some milestones in capacity building of officers during the year, adding that 919 of them were trained in weapon and 550 in military police training.
