Imo/Aba Customs arrests 21 suspected smugglers

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C, Owerri, has arrested a total of 21 suspects in connection with illegal importation, seizure and detention of sundry contraband items within the Imo/Abia Command.

The goods which were seized on the Benin/Owerri/Pourt Harcourt axis, Benin/Onitsha, Aba/Eleme, Eleme/Aba axis include 635 cartons of tramadol, 286 cartons of chest /lury and 237 cartons of really/extra.

Other items are: 726 bags of foreign rice bearing a DPV of N29,307,000, 1 x 40ft container of tubes and tyres with a DPV of N5,927,232 and four vehicles ferried in a container.

The rest were: 1 x 40 ft containers carrying 845 used tyres and four vehicles, 726 bags of foreign rice with a DPV of N29,307,000, PVC doors and garments.

Addressing newsmen at the premises of the NCS in Owerri, where he showcased the items impounded and detained, the Unit Area comptroller in charge of the Zone, Mohammad Ubah Garaba, warned members of the public including motorists to desist from the consumption and usage of substandard, fake and adulterated drugs, as well as second-hand tyres.

He observed that while fake and substandard drugs are harmful and injurious to health, second-hand tyres have been discovered to be responsible for most accidents on roads.

“The dangers associated with used tyres is that they have expiry dates from the dates of their manufacture and their usage by some motorists more often than not cause road accident and death hence the ban become necessary,” he said.

The Customs Unit Area Comptroller who handed over the deadly drugs to some officials of National Agency For Food, Drugs Administration And Control (NAFDAC) for necessary action lamented that rampant consumption of fake drugs had brought avoidable sorrow and grief to some individuals and their families and enjoined those still trapped in the habit to desist/forth in their own interest, before the hands of the law catches up with them.

Garuba, who listed the goods placed under detention as motor cycle spare parts, 1152 cartons of green pears and floor tiles said that the items would be released to their owners after necessary investigation within the period of 30 days.

He advised smugglers, their agents and collaborators to embrace legitimate trade, assuring that the federal government would assist them with the necessary incentives to excel.