The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, is said to have seized contraband, including diesel, textile materials, vehicles, used tires, rice, among others, worth N51,238,235, in the last five months.
The zone encompasses Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Benue , and Nassarawa states.
The FOU Comptroller, Adesanmi Omiye, at a press conference at the zonal headquarters, Bauchi, on Thursday, said the seizures were from February to June 2021.
He explained that the seizures included a vehicle containing 33,900 liters of diesel, which were packaged in 565 bags, adding that they were seized around Otukpa in Benue State.
He said, “The operatives of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi, apart from blocking and suppressing smuggling within the zone, made seizures of 565 sacks, containing 60 liters each of petroleum products (diesel) totaling 33,900 liters, with a DPV of N12,910,250.
“Twenty-four bundles of foreign textile material with a DPV of N8,880,000, four used vehicles with a DPV of N5,130,000, 27 bales of second-hand clothing with DPV of N4,860,000, and 236 cartons of foreign soap, with DPV of N1,556,500. The total DPV of all seizures is N51,238,235.00.”
Speaking on the seized diesel, he said, “This diesel was seized at Otukpa in Benue State, and from our little investigation, it seems the vehicle was coming from Port Harcourt.
“We know that this was supposed to be taken out of the country, but we were able to seize it. Everything inside it is diesel and this is supposed to be for local consumption. If we had compromised, it would have gone to a foreign country and they would be enjoying our subsidy, which is meant for our local market.”
Ada Peter
