By Bon Peters
OWERRI/Nigeria: The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Owerri, says it has intercepted contraband and unregistered products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦505 million in operations across the South-South and South-East.
This was disclosed by the Controller of FOU Zone C, Comptroller B.A. Balogun, during a press briefing in Benin City, Edo State, where he described the seizures as part of the unit’s renewed drive to enforce government fiscal policies, curb smuggling, and facilitate legitimate trade.
According to Comptroller Balogun, the interceptions were made possible through intelligence-led operations under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR). He praised the professionalism and commitment of officers in enforcing the provisions of the NCS Act 2023.
Items seized include 3,022 pieces of dry salted donkey skin packed in sacks, used tyres, bales of second-hand clothing, bags of foreign parboiled rice, foreign wines and cosmetics without NAFDAC registration numbers, cartons of foreign Geisha, woven sacks, two used Mercedes and Scania trucks, a Toyota Tundra SUV, and a J5 bus, among others. The total Duty Paid Value of the seizures was put at ₦505,520,886.
Comptroller Balogun explained that some of the seized items would be handed over to relevant agencies for further action. While cannabis sativa would be transferred to the NDLEA, unregistered medicaments would go to NAFDAC, and donkey skins to NESREA.
“These successes are the result of teamwork, professionalism, and the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs,” Balogun said. “Our officers remain committed to sanitizing the region of illicit trade while promoting legitimate business.”
He urged traders to comply with regulations, warning that Customs officers are fully trained to detect and stop non-compliant practices and block potential revenue leakages.
The Controller also commended the media for supporting the service in its anti-smuggling campaign and appealed to Nigerians to provide useful information and intelligence to assist Customs in safeguarding the nation’s economy.
