ABUJA: The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone `A’ of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted prohibited goods valued at N52.3 million within one week.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Sani Madugu, made the disclosure while conducting newsmen round the seizures on Tuesday in Lagos.
The seized goods are, 239 bales of second-hand clothes; generators; 336 jerry cans of vegetable oil; 1,138 of frozen poultry products and 42 parcels of Indian hemp.
Madugu said the command also intercepted 138 bales of used clothes and 98 units of used compressors.
He said that some suspects apprehended in connection with the seizures were being investigated.
The controller said the 42 parcels of Indian hemp would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
“This compelling gesture becomes pertinent in view of the need to enhance operational synergy with various agencies of government for a sustained relationship,’’ he said.
Madagu, who said he took over as controller of the command on Nov. 6, explained that the unit was an enforcement arm of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said the unit had the responsibility of suppressing smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade.
The controller said the unit had also been entrusted with other oversight functions which entail operational back-up for other Customs commands in the zone in times of distress, amid other functions.
Madugu said the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), retired Col. Hameed Ali, had intimated the personnel with his policy thrust which was anchored on transparency, honesty and integrity.
He said the CGC’s mandate had become the officers’ guiding principle and the guidelines had been yielding positive results in the unit, which had adopted several operational modalities to fight smugglers.
Madagu said the unit had also made efforts to improve on Customs/Community relations.
