The officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri has continued to record success in its anti-smuggling drive in the zone with seizures of items worth millions in duty paid value. A 1X40 FT container with marks numbers MRKU 254564 loaded with 1,017 sacks of 50 kg cannabis (Indian hemp) estimated at over was intercepted at Benin-Shagamu road. The seizures also include a MAN diesel truck with registration number KRV 238 XB carrying 725 different brands of 50 kg smuggled rice with duty paid value worth N24,650,000 along Calabar/Cameroun border axis.
A trailer truck with registration number GBB 85 XA suspected to be carrying adulterated diesel petroleum product was also intercepted along Aba-Owerri road. Giving a narrative of the seizures to newsmen in a briefing, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Garba said the suspect connected to the cannabis seizure – James Idoko who claimed to be a student, presented copies of fake customs documents and attempted to bribe Customs operatives with N350,000 for his release.
The cannabis, the suspect and the exhibit of N350,000 were handed over to the Principal Staff Officer (Operation and Intelligence) of the NDLEA Edo State Command Timothy Adewole for further investigation. The Customs Area Controller regretted that the desire for foreign products by some Nigerians has continued to affect the economy of the country negatively.
He called on Nigerians to look inwards as the Government is trying its best to encourage local industries which will in turn create job opportunities for the unemployed. He therefore advised Nigerians to imbibe a greater sense of patriotism in line with “the change begins with me” mantra recently launched by Mr. President by eschewing all acts and conducts inimical to the nation
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