‘Customs seized N5.5b contrabands in 2023’
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operation Unit Zone C, Owerri said it seized various contrabands worth N5.5bn between January and December 2023.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Jerry Attah, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Attah said within the period, the zone recovered N152m from importers who made under-declarations.
Headquartered in Owerri, Customs FOU Zone C covers all the states in the South East and South South Region including Bayelsa, Port Harcourt 1 and 2, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Akwa Ibom.
Attah said some seized contrabands include, “five sacks of pangolin scales weighing 413.1kg; 398 sacks of Indian hemp, weighing 8,756kg and another 2,308 compressed parcels of Indian hemp
“The five sacks of pangolin scales and the 11,064kg of Indian hemp were the highest, if not arguably the first seizure of such endangered species and hard drugs in the history of the zone.
“Also intercepted were 31 cartons of various medicaments, 32 jerrycans of petrol, and 540 pieces of used tires.”
He added that between July and September of the same year, the zone intercepted cannabis sativa, raw materials for the production of explosive devices, “and also arrested nine suspects in connection with the seizures.
“Other items seized were fake pharmaceutical products, used vehicles, used tires, used clothing, and explosives among others.”
