ABUJA: The Federal Operations unit, FOU, Zone “A”, of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted 147 sacks and 120 parcels of Indian hemp with Duty Paid Value, DPV of N72.9 million from importers within the last three weeks. The Indian hemp sacks were intercepted in three seizures and a cumulative total of N783million in 54 seizures were recorded while 16 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. The unit which is the anti-smuggling arm of the service, also impounded two trucks carrying 1,104 cartons of different medicaments worth N12.135 million.
According to the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Mohammed Umar Garba, the seized consignments of Indian hemp and medicaments have been handed over to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC for further investigations. He commended the NDLEA and NAFDAC for their cooperation and assistance and other security agencies, especially the military and the police for their continuous support in curbing the crime. The Customs boss also disclosed that other contrabands intercepted by the Service were 27 assorted vehicles, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, bales of used cloths and lace materials, used tyres, and other general merchandise.