The Nigeria Customs Service says it generated about N127 million in November as revenue from mostly import of goods into the country through the Kamba border in Kebbi.

The NCS command spokesperson in Kebbi, Nasiru Manga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The command said it seized items worth over N46 million.

“Giving a breakdown of the command’s activities, Attah said that the command generated a sum of N127.8 million as revenue from mostly import of goods into the country through the Kamba border,” the NCS explained. “On the area of anti-smuggling as patrol is intensified across Kebbi State, the command seized smuggled assorted items consisting of 303 bales and 94 sacks of second-hand clothing.”

It added, “One unit of used BMW vehicle, 2,375 litres of PMS loaded in jerrycans and 58 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50Kg each, among others with a duty paid value of N46.7 million were seized.”

The statement also mentioned that the Customs Area Controller, Joseph Attah, assured the public that smuggling would be curtailed. 

“From the record at our disposal, there is an increase in the smuggling of second-hand cloths in the last two months. You may recall that 139 bales were also seized in October,” said the statement. “The smugglers cash in on the people’s demand for thick clothes such as cardigans in this harmattan season to smuggle these used clothes, not minding the health implication to the end user. We don’t know where the items came from or the last users of the clothes, their health status and so on.”

Customs pointed out that second-hand cloths fall under Schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff (CET) 2022-2026, importation of which is prohibited on health grounds.

“Its smuggling contravenes Section 46 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) 2004 (as amended). It is our responsibility to ensure that no item that could negatively affect our people is allowed entry. We are determined to do just that,” stated the NCS.

(NAN)