The officers and men of Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in its continuous fight against the nefarious act of economy saboteurs has seized various contrabands with dpv of 7.9billion, between the period of January 1st through February 5th 2019.
Addressing news men at the Unit , the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Muhammed Aliyu disclosed that various items ranging from exotic vehicles seized from different part of the state with duty paid value (dpv) of 157million naira , 459kg of Indian hemp, 42,412kg of donkey skin and notable among the seized items are bales of police Uniform, tear gas canisters and other paraphernalia of the Nigeria Police Force.
The uniforms which consist of ranks, belts, berets and police badges with identity cards
was intercepted along Lagos road, concealed in a Toyota Sienna space bus heading out of Lagos.
The CAC made it known that after the arrest of the vehicle, a suspect in connection to the seizure has been kept under the unit custody .
He noted that the uniforms are threat to national security as it is destined to get to the wrong hands. “The seizure is a threat to national security because the uniform can be used for kidnapping, Boko Haram or elections, but generally, it threatens national security,”
“We have the ranks of sergeants, inspector, the belt and the badges on the ranks. you can see that the identity cards have no name on them. They are only printed and later they will be affixed with any names they want to put on it.” he quipped.
Muhammed who further disclosed that the vehicle was intercepted along the road
on Lagos high way enroute another state
said the service would ensure that the offensive goods of such nature are not allowed into the country because it concerns the national security, not just the quantity alone but also the havoc it will cause.
For instance, one bundle of this uniform can accommodate about ten persons and Nigerians will complain about atrocities of Police not knowing they are not real police but impostors.”
When asked whether part of the contraband may have evaded the eagle eye of the officers of the service, Comptroller Muhammed said the service knows how to recover the remaining if any.
“There are certain issues we don’t need to tell the press. We strategies our operations and when i get more i will call you because if i say our strategies now, they will be aware.”
Speaking further on the seizure, he said, “Not only the identity cards and the ranks were intercepted but also cutlass, what will a supposed police do with cutlass? Have you ever seen a genuine policeman with cutlass? These are part of the atrocities they will use the uniform to commit.
He however warned those involved in the unwholesome practice to stop because the service will always be a step ahead of them.
“I am telling those who are doing this unwholesome practice to put a stop to it while they destroy the ones they have in stock, because we are coming for them.” his word.
