The Kano/Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized contraband items, ranging from foreign rice, second-hand clothing, foreign vegetable oil, valued at N32,926,004.00k.

Speaking to Reporters on Thursday in Kano, at the command’s headquarter, the Customs Comptroller, Ahmed Nasir, said the banned items were intercepted at different times within the metropolis, The Nation reports.

Nasir said the operations, following a tip-off, was carried out with the full support of the Armed forces at the volatile area of Kofar Wambai market at the heart of the city.

He confirmed that one suspected smuggler, who is the receiver was arrested, but granted administrative bail.

He added that the seizures were made within three days of the operations, which include, “over 494 bales of banned second-hand clothes with Duty Paid Value of N19,124,222.00, 481 bags of foreign rice, with a cost of N10,946,754.

Other seized items include 19 bags of foreign rice of 100kg valued at N850,668,00, as well as 150 Jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil of 25 litres at cost of N2,004,450.00.

Ahmed explained that the second-hand clothes were brought from Aba, fully loaded in two trailers and were subsequently impounded at the market, while the foreign rice and vegetable oil were concealed in eight vehicles and intercepted at the borders of Jigawa and Katsina states.

The customs boss stated that the command would not relent in its fight in smashing the activities of unrepentant smugglers.

”We need to build the economy of the country, and all hands must be on deck, as customs alone cannot do it, but with the collective efforts and cooperation’s of Nigerians”, he said.