CUSTOMS: FOU Zone B Intercepts Foreign Tactical Military Camouflage In Katsina , Nabs Nigerien Citizen

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, on Thursday May 11th 2023, disclosed that it impounded assorted foreign tactical military  camouflage along Jibia-Katsina Road with one Nigerien suspect arrested.

Controller ,  FOU Zone B , Comptroller Musa Ibrahim Jalo made this known to newsmen during a press briefing at the unit headquarters in Kaduna State today.

According to him, after further examination and interrogation, the driver was identified to be a Nigerien citizen while the suspected uniforms were to be delivered to an unknown person in Katsina.

Giving a breakdown of the seized clothing, Comptroller Jalo explained that the uniforms were counted to be 22 pairs of foreign camouflage shirts and trousers with additional 25 pieces of military camouflage T-shirts.

He  recalled that the seized items together with the suspect have been handed over to the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) in adherence with the collaborations between the two agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Jalo said “On 25th April 2023 at about 1130hrs, our operatives while on stop and search operations also arrested One (1) Used Volkswagen Golf driven by a Nigerien citizen along Jibia-Katsina Road.

“During the operation, the patrol officers observed and identified a sack in the vehicle that was later opened, and assorted military camouflaged shirts, trousers, and T-shirts were found, “he noted.

Comptroller Jalo stated that anti-smuggling activities of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ of the Nigerian Customs Service between March and April 2023 made a total of 188 seizures of 17 different prohibited items with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) N628, 286, 660.62K) only at different locations in the Zone.

While on credible intelligence , he added that notably among the seizures were as follows:   1 used Mitsubishi Canter with Registration Number AKR 10 XG conveying sacks of cannabis sativa otherwise known as marijuana concealed with bags of cassava flakes (Garri) and Sawdust along Bungudu-Tsafe Road in  Zamfara State.

The customs chief stressed that after physical examination, the vehicle was found to contain 46 sacks of marijuana, with a street value of .N2, 069,144.40K.

Similarly, he affirmed that on 23rd March 2023; operatives arrested a suspicious white illegal narcotic substance together with 2 male suspects and 1 locally made pistol in the course of the anti-smuggling operations at Maigatari axis of Jigawa State, adding that the  illegal substance together with the male suspects was brought to the office for further action.

The controller stated that the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kaduna State Command were invited to carry out  test on the substance to determine its true nature, pointing out that the test further proved the illegal substance to be OPIUM Substance with a total weight of 422g.

Jalo revealed that the street value of the OPIUM substance is N31, 018,568.98K only adding that: “The 422 grams of Opium Substance together with the suspects and 1 locally made pistol were handed over to the NDLEA Kaduna State Command on 30th March 2023 for further investigation, ”

According to him, eagled-eyed officers likewise impounded 140 Jerry cans (25 litres each) of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) with DPV of N2, 746,639.00 noting further that the Unit Intercepted 1, 147 Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (25 litres each)  worth N2,167,657.95

In line with the extant laws and guidelines as directed by the Customs Headquarters, he said,  the PMS and the diesel that were seized have also been auctioned and the proceeds remitted to the coffers of the Federal Government.

Comptroller Jalo affirmed that “In line with the cordial relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the 46 sacks of marijuana together with means of conveyance would be handed over to the Commandant NDLEA Kaduna State Command for further action.

 

“I am happy to inform you that our renewed effort  has been recognised by the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) CFR and his management team by giving the Unit a Letter of Commendation to the Unit. This would go a long way in boosting the morale of the Officers and Men of the Unit.

“At this juncture, I wish to reiterate my commitment of enforcing the Federal Government Fiscal policies in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as our operatives are  battle-ready to carry out our mandate effectively.

“I am also using this opportunity to solicit with host communities around the border areas to continue to provide us with useful information that will assist our operatives to impound prohibited goods in the interest of the nation.

“Finally, let me use this opportunity, to first, commend, the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) CFR and his management team, for their logistics support to the Unit, our sister agencies, namely the Police, DSS, Military, NDLEA, Standards Organisations of Nigeria (SON) among others, for their collaborations”. he added.

The customs boss stated that other items seized during the period under review include: 37  Units of Used Vehicles, 5 Units of  Vehicles  (Means of Conveyance), 2,109 bags of Foreign Parboiled rice (50kg each) and 69 bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (25 KG each), 8 Jerrycans of Foreign Refined Vegetable Oil (25  Litres each) and 1,241 cartons of Foreign Spaghetti and Macaroni.

 

Other items are 39 bales of Foreign Secondhand Clothing , 30 sacks of Foreign Second Hand Shoes , 14 cartons of Foreign Fruit Juice , 21 Cartons of Foreign Pomade , 80 pieces of Foreign Car Batteries  and 1 carton of Foreign Milk.

Jalo who took over of the mantle of leadership of the Unit on 27 January 2023; tasked the operatives of the Unit to work hard to suppress smuggling activities in the Zone which led to series successes.

 

By Roland Ekama