The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command, has arrested eight suspected smugglers and seized goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N105,728,974.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Mr Abdullah Zulkiflu, said this on Tuesday in Ibadan at a news briefing to showcase the achievements of the command in the first quarter of year.
Zulkiflu said the smuggled items include 3,270 (50kg) of imported rice, 700 (25 litres) kegs of vegetable oil, four used cars, 50 bags of sugar, 20 bales of second hand clothing and 29 vehicles used to convey the alleged contraband.
The comptroller said the eight suspects arrested in connection with the smuggled items had been granted administrative bail and would be charged to court immediately the command concluded its investigations.
He said that most of the rice and other contrabands were concealed in vehicles that have no economic value and motorcycles to perpetrate these nefarious acts.
“It is worrisome some unpatriotic citizens still find joy in perpetrating this dastardly act for personal gain despite the continuous awareness on the consequences of smuggling activities on economic growth and development.
“The command under my watch will continue to improve on its intelligence strategy to arrest the economic saboteurs,” Zulkiflu said.
The NCS area comptroller said the command generated N13,397,441,364 from exercise duties in the first quarter of 2019 as against N6,032,964,650 generated within the same period in 2018.
He said the revenue generated in the first quarter represented an increase of 101.4 per cent as against the same period in 2018.
Zulkiflu said the officers and men of the command would not relent on their effort in fighting smuggling with a view to protecting Nigeria indigenous industries.
He commended the dedication of his officers and synergy enjoyed from other sister security agencies. (NAN)