The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ’C’ has intercepted five sacks of pangolin scales , hard drugs and other contraband worth about N2.8 billion in the South East in the last three months.
The Acting Comptroller, FOUC, DC Kayode Kolade, said this while addressing newsmen during his maiden press conference in Owerri, on Wednesday.
He said: “While the predominantly white belly Pangolin scales were intercepted along Benin-Lagos expressway, the 398 sacks and 2,308 parcels of Indian hemp were intercepted at Ewu-Auchi road and Asaba/Onitsha Expressway respectively.”
The Zone also arrested 13 suspects in connection with the seizures within the period under review (January 25th to March 25th 2023).
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The service also recovered the sum of N61.5 million from demand notices raised based on some infractions discovered on some imports.
This makes a cumulative sum of N2.82 Billion which the command recovered within the months under review.
Kolade who assumed office on the 25th January said that the seizures were among his significant achievements.
He listed other seized contraband to include 398 sacks of cannabis sativa popularly known as Indian hemp weighing 8,756kg and 2,308 compressed parcels of same Indian hemp 1kg each totaling 2,308kg.