The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A Ikeja, said it intercepted N2.9bn worth of contrabands in the first quarter of 2024.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on Friday, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Hussein Ejibunnu, announced that 29 suspects were arrested within the period.
He added that within the period under review, the command also seized 12, 278 bags of rice equivalent to 21 trailers.
“Other items seized include 40 units of used vehicles, 286 cartons of rubber slippers, 1,220 cartons of foreign tomato paste, 2,705 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit, 3,510 pieces of pneumatic used tyres, 330 bales of used clothes, and 2,230 kg of Indian Hemp,
“Others aew 1,569 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products, 365 cartons of unmarked drugs, 104 units of Haojuo motorcycle, and 566 cartons of slippers among others,” Ejibunnu said.
He added that within the period under review, the command collected N305m through issuances of debit notes.
Ejibunnu lamented attacks on officers carrying out their legitimate duties by suspected smugglers.
He explained that the officers were attacked in Oyo State.
“Just recently, officers of this unit were carrying out their legitimate duties when they were shot at by some armed men suspected to be smugglers along Igbori Village, in Oyo State.
“Although some of the officers in the patrol team sustained injuries, the assailants were repelled with superior firepower,” he explained.
Ejibunnu warned armed non-state actors to beware of the legal consequences of their actions when caught.
“We shall never be distracted or deterred by their antics. The rules of engagement would be fully invoked in compliance with the Service’s Standard Operating Procedures to counter any attack on officers,” he concluded.
