Customs ‘FOU Zone C’ Intercepts N126M Contraband Goods in 1 Month; Champions Medical Outreach

The Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted various contrabands with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N126.67 million in furtherance of its anti-smuggling activities. The Unit, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, also championed a medical outreach and water supply project in Irete, Owerri state.

  The Unit Head, Comptroller Michael Ugbagu,  disclosed this in a briefing held on 7 November 2024 at the command’s headquarters in Owerri, Imo state.

  He said between October 7th and November 6th, the unit seized a range of contraband items, including 5,189 sachets of tramadol, 164 bales of secondhand clothing, 212 cartons of foreign macaroni, 643 used pneumatic tyres, 119 jerrycans of premium motor spirit, 44 bags of foreign rice, 40 used compressors, and 10 parcels of cannabis sativa. Based on intelligence, these seizures were primarily conducted along the Ewu-Okada/Benin expressways and Calabar axis. He said, “The FOU Zone C also focused on giving back to its host communities. In collaboration with stakeholders, the unit organised a two-day free medical outreach on November 2nd and 3rd for residents of Irete, Imo State.” The outreach offered services such as blood pressure and sugar level checks, eye examinations, consultations with medical practitioners, and distribution of free medicated glasses.

  Community members expressed appreciation, noting that the medical outreach met critical health needs. “Zone C implemented two solar-powered boreholes with 10,000-liter storage tanks in Irete, Imo State and Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State. The water projects, set to be inaugurated next week, aim to provide consistent, clean water access regardless of power availability, directly addressing community needs,” he explained.

  Comptroller Ugbagu commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for his support and guidance. He urged the public to support Customs’ efforts by providing intelligence information to curb smuggling activities that harm the nation’s economy.