The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto-Zamfara area command, has seized 599 bales of second-hand clothes, seven sacks of second-hand women’s bags, 43 cartons of cigarettes and other contraband in Sokoto.

The acting area comptroller, Halliru Isa-Abdullahi, told journalists on Thursday that the items were worth N722 million in Duty Paid Value (DPV).

Mr Isa-Abdullahi listed other confiscated items to include seven cartons of coffee, unregistered pharmaceutical products, 100 packages of quinine and 500 packages of amodiaquine drugs.

According to him, the other items were 140 packages of paracetamol, 300 packages of anti-cold drugs, a carton of analgesic injections, four cartons of Dynewell syrup and tablets, and one carton of Clear Cold.

Mr Isa-Abdullahi added that the operation was in line with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, which emphasised consolidation, collaboration and innovation in anti-smuggling operations to secure the borders and protect the nation’s economy.

He said the suspects abandoned the vehicle when they discovered that operatives were trailing them, adding that some repairs were carried out on the truck before it was conveyed to Sokoto.

The acting area comptroller explained that the command’s concerted efforts to suppress smuggling activities had continued to yield positive results despite insecurity in some parts of the states.

“Operatives of the command ensured blocking and suppression of smuggling, which have successfully led to the seizure of a used DAF truck as a means of conveyance of the contraband items into the country,” Mr Isa-Abdullahi said.

The acting comptroller urged Nigerians to support the NCS by providing credible information that could help eradicate smuggling in Nigeria.

He noted that eradicating smuggling would prevent people from consuming unregistered drugs that pose serious health risks to citizens.

Mr Isa-Abdullahi noted that eradicating smuggling would also boost the economy, enabling the federal government to provide social amenities to the citizenry.

He further warned smugglers and their collaborators to desist from the nefarious act, stressing that, regardless of their tactics, operatives would continue to stay one step ahead of them.

(NAN)