From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
The Katsina State command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded a trailer-load of imported used clothes said to have a street value of about N7 million.
The Customs also, at a ceremony in Katsina, handed over a middle-aged man who was apprehended with Tramadol Hydrochloride, classified as hard drug, to the state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Speaking at the programme, the Customs Area Comptroller, Olusemire Kayode, said his men intercepted the trailer-load of second-hand clothes along Jibia Road, Katsina, on Sunday morning after they were forced to shoot at the rear tyres of the vehicle, when the driver refused to stop.
According to the Customs’ chief, “we shall continue to do all within legal means to stop smuggling, including enlightening people on the harm smuggling is doing to our economy.
“Each bale costs N70,000 at wholesale price and, if you multiply that by 100, you can add up the total value.”
He said the drug peddler was also arrested on Sunday along one of the illegal routes bordering Jibia town with Niger Republic, explaining that thee drugs were in 37 rolls with each containing 10 packets of the tablet.
He said: “My officers caught the suspect along with the drugs about 3am on Sunday inside a bush along the Jibia route. We are handing him over to the NDLEA along with the drugs, in line with inter-agency cooperation.
“This drug you see is very dangerous and it belongs to the category of heroin and cocaine. I suggest more enlightenment on the harmful effects of drug taking to our people. Hard drug consumption can only give you hallucinations and myopia.”
NDLEA officer, Eze Simon, who received the suspect and the drugs on behalf of the agency, praised the Customs for its vigilance.