Customs seize N91m contraband

In Imo State, the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’, Owerri has revealed that it confiscated contraband items to the tune of N91m.

While addressing journalists on Friday, Mr Kayode Olusemire, the Customs Area Controller said that the seized consignments included 936 bags of 50kg rice.

He revealed that the bags of foreign rice were repackaged in local rice bags to escape security.

Other items seized in the consignment include a Toyota Hummer bus, 128 bales of used fabric, among others used in conveying the smuggled items.

Olusemire said that the items were intercepted en route to Imo State from Akwa Ibom and Anambra states. He said,

“It is regrettable that, while we are waging war against smuggling, these smugglers are devising other means to perpetrate their evil deeds without recourse to the health and safety of Nigerians.

We have established communication with the transport company whose bus was used to carry out this heinous act and we assure (the public) that the driver as well as all other smugglers will soon be brought to book.”

He urged consumers to be careful about foreign and substandard consumables that are masked as locally made and standard most of the times. He said that these items pose serious health and safety hazards.