Customs alerts on smugglers’ new technique

The Controller General of Customs Compliance Team has alerted on a new technique adopted by smugglers to import contraband which he said includes using misleading packaging.  Speaking at a press conference on the activities of the team yesterday in Kaduna, the national coordinator of the team, Comptroller Ahmed Azarema, said they intercepted three open body […]

The Controller General of Customs Compliance Team has alerted on a new technique adopted by smugglers to import contraband which he said includes using misleading packaging. 

Speaking at a press conference on the activities of the team yesterday in Kaduna, the national coordinator of the team, Comptroller Ahmed Azarema, said they intercepted three open body trailers on which foreign rice was concealed in local bags, as well as bags containing beans and empty drums of palm oil.

He revealed that the team made 296 seizures of contraband worth over N7 million in the last six months.

“The service seized 6,055 50kg bags of foreign rice; 2,220 25kg jerry cans of vegetable oil; 1,454 bales of second hand clothing and shoes; 130 vehicles and 600 cartons of Tramadol drugs between May and October, 2017,” he added.

He assured that the present fight against smuggling will not only be sustained, but improved upon to reduce it to the barest minimum, adding that effective prosecution of defendants would be employed to secure conviction to serve as deterrent to others.