The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ (FOUC), says it intercepted eight different exotic cars from suspected smugglers between January 1 and February 28, 2022.
The cars were three Toyota Hilux (2017, 2020 and 2021 models); one Land Cruiser Prado (2016 model); one Toyota Highlander (2014 model) and Toyota Venza (2016 model) among others.
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Daily Trust gathered that the cars, which were intercepted without relevant customs documents, have been moved to an unknown location.
The FOUC Comptroller, Mr Ali Ibrahim, disclosed in a statement that six suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement with the smuggled items.
He put the value of all the goods intercepted which also included pharmaceutical products – tramadol as well as other contraband – at over N529 million.
He added that the six suspects, who were arrested during the period under review, were granted administrative bail.
The comptroller said 640 cartons of unregistered pharmaceuticals worth N192 million, conveyed in a DAF heavy-duty truck and one J5 bus were also intercepted along the Okada/Benin axis.
He added that 1,650 bales of used clothing valued at N165 million were intercepted along Umuikaa/Aba road while 181/50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice worth over N7.2 million were intercepted along the Akwa Ibom/Calabar axis.
Also intercepted were 2,239 pieces of used pneumatic tyres valued at N4.5 million and 36,000 litres of smuggled petroleum products concealed in polyethene bags, worth N3.6 million.