ABUJA: Officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) handling the seized N315 billion smuggled textile materials in Kano State have so far collected N1 billion as duties from owners of the goods.
It would be recalled that in May this year, officials of the NCS sealed 75 warehouses housing smuggled textile materials in Kano State. Two weeks ago, the Customs Service commenced de-sealing of the warehouses.
It was gathered at the weekend that out of the 75 warehouses, 25 are owned by Chinese traders operating at the Kanti Kwari textile market in Kano. A senior official of the Customs told media that 15 out of the 25 warehouses belonging to the Chinese traders have been de-sealed.
“The Chinese traders are responding more than the local ones. Out of 25, owners of 15 warehouses have responded and we realised over N1 billion as duties from them,” the Customs officer who is among those handling the smuggled textile materials said on condition of anonymity.
The officer, who declined to disclose the number of warehouses belonging to Nigerian traders that have been opened, said the response of local traders were poor when compared to their foreign counterparts. But in an interview, Chairman of Kanti Kwari Traders Association, Alhaji Liti Kulkul, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, saying things are going on smoothly.
Customs mounting surveillance in areas where the smuggled textiles are stocked are still stationed there.
