ABUJA: The Nigerian Customs Service says it has arrested no fewer than 36 suspects in connection with 482 seizures of contraband valued at N228, 906, 100.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were apprehended by the NCS, Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, Lagos State, between January and April 2015.
Our correspondent gathered that among the seizures were 8,584 bags of 50 kilogrammes parboiled rice valued at N55m, 86 units of fairly used vehicles valued at N108m and 11,647 cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products valued at N62m.
Others were 189 boxes of general goods such as textile materials, foot wears, vegetable oils, insecticides, wines, assorted soaps and noodles. They were valued at N67m.
The FOU Public Relations Officer, DSC Ejesieme Uche, who confirmed the arrests and seizures, enjoined the public to always avail customs officers of information useful in tracking down suspected smugglers.
He said, “The war against smuggling is a herculean task because of the natural tendency of a smuggler to fight back each time their goods are seized. We call on Nigerians to support the NCS through genuine information that will assist us in tracking smugglers and their routes.”
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