The Federal Operations Unit, Zone `A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) seized goods valued N129 million, between Feb. 27 and March 31, 2012.
The Controller of the unit, Mr Dan Ugo, announced this in Lagos on Wednesday, while briefing journalists.
Ugo said that the seizures, 306 in all consisting of vehicles and general goods were made within one month.
“Comparatively speaking, this record accounts for over 40 per cent increase when compared with the record for the corresponding period of 2011.’’
The controller said that 51 suspects were arrested within the period under review, while many cases were pending in courts.
He said the achievements did not come without some operational hazards, adding that officers of the unit had tough encounter with miscreants and smugglers in the course of doing their job.
Ugo commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, for providing enabling environment for efficiency.
“We are prepared, we are competent, we have the capacity and we have the backing of the comptroller-general.’’
He explained that the unit had been using intelligence officers to arrest smugglers and seal their warehouses.
The controller said officers and men of his unit “do not have to be on the road to make their mark’’.
NAN reports that goods seized included used clothes, used fridges, rice, used tyres, vegetable oil, and wine among others. (NAN)