As part of its stepped-up efforts to combat smuggling in the state, the Nigeria Customs Service’s Kebbi State Area Command has seized illicit commodities valued at N323 million.

In Birnin Kebbi on Friday, Customs Area Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest-Ojike gave reporters an update on the command’s third-quarter operations.

Ernest-Ojike stated that while the officers and soldiers worked diligently to eradicate smuggling operations in Kebbi, the command had achieved a number of victories.

We have confiscated eight bags of 50 kg foreign parboiled rice, 74 boxes of various medications, 16,300 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and 367 bales of used clothes.

“Others include 180 donkey skin pieces wrapped in nine sacks, two 35-kg litres of oxidised nitric acid, and one DAF truck and Toyota Corolla for transportation, among other things,” Ernest-Ojike stated.

The regional comptroller also revealed that five individuals had been taken into custody and released on administrative bail in relation to the seizures.

He said that, pending more research and a fair prosecution of their case, this accomplishment was in accordance with the constitution.

The total value of the confiscated goods, including duty paid, is N323, 065, 567. The outfield officers, our intelligence unit, patrol team commanders, other pertinent units, sister agencies, and well-meaning Nigerians who gave intelligence worked together to make the aforementioned seizures possible,” he added.

Ernest-Ojike said that 180 pieces of donkey skin will be given to Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services by the command.

He said that this was on top of the 74 cartons of various medications that were to be sent to NAFDAC, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

He claims that the move falls under the consolidation, innovation, and cooperation pillars of Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale-Adeniyi’s strategy.

Regarding income generation, Ernest-Ojike stated that in spite of difficulties caused by low volume imports at the sole official border, Kamba, the command managed to raise N36.2 million during the reviewed period.