Customs intercept dried donkey skin, other contrabands worth N126 million in Bauchi
Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
The anti-smuggling unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone D based in Bauchi has impounded 102 pieces of dried donkey skins and other contraband goods worth over N126 million between January to June 2022.
The FOU Zone D comprises Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa states.
The Comptroller of the Zone, Adesanmi Joseph Omiye, stated this today in Bauchi when he briefed newsmen at the Zone D Headquarters.
He said, “The Cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all the seizures amounts to one hundred and twenty-six million, five hundred and sixty thousand, hundred and thirty-one naira, twenty-five kobo (N126,560,131.25K).”
Joseph said the items seized are, “605 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, Seven (7) used vehicles (means of conveyance), 54 bales of secondhand clothes, 215 cartons of foreign soap, 42 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 102 pieces of dried donkey skin, 69 sacks of a foreign used shoe, 150 Jerry cans of petroleum product, 20 litres each (engine oil) and 20 Jerry cans of PMS, 25 litres each and 50 cartons of ringer lactates (drugs).”
The comptroller said other items seized by the unit include “One thousand five hundred and sixty-two (1562) bags of Urea fertilizer.”
He said that the success was part of the unit’s concerted efforts in the suppression of smuggling activities which has continued to yield good results despite the insurgency in some parts of the zone.
Joseph said, “The action of our operatives are in line with the provision of section 8 and 158 (power to patrol freely) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.
“These unprecedented seizures were achieved as a result of sharing of information, intelligence gathering and doggedness of the officers/men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone D in making the zone unbearable for smugglers.”
He appealed to Nigerians to assist in providing genuine information that could aid in eradicating the menace of smuggling in the zone and the country at large.
“They have to know that eradicating smuggling in this country will boost the economy which will make the federal government provide social amenities to the citizenry,” Joseph said.
