Customs Seize Smuggled Items Worth N45m, Generate N98m

Kebbi State Command of Nigeria Customs Service in a renewed anti-smuggling onslaught has seized petrol and other items worth a duty paid value of N45,030,111 within two weeks.

According to the area controller of the command, Joseph Attah, other seized items are fertiliser, used clothes and vegetable oil.

Attah also give an update on the revenue generation drive of the command following the reopening of the Kamba border.

Giving the breakdown of the seizures in a press release, Nasiru Manga, the command’s spokesman said they include 98 bags of fertiliser, 4,125 liters of petrol, 50 containers of vegetable oil and 17 bales of second-hand clothes.

Showing a 2021 Toyota Hilux among other items seized by operatives of the command, Comptroller Attah reminded members of the border trading community that the federal government’s policy on restriction of vehicle importation to seaports still subsists.

“Even if a smuggler succeeds in one or two occasions, sometimes, one big catch crumbles every profit ever made, with the possibility of going to jail. Therefore, the safe and more profitable way is to engage in legitimate trade,” he said.

Declaring the Kamba border ready for business, Attah revealed that the command had so far generated N98.4m from imports and facilitated export of 7,377 metric tons of local goods.  He said items exported include coal, onions, pepper and ginger among others while expressing optimism in possibility of making higher revenue.