We donate seized smuggled items to IDPs – Katsina customs boss

We donate seized smuggled items to IDPs – Katsina customs boss

Nigeria Customs chief says all seized textile materials and food items now go straight to IDP camps.

All goods seized from smugglers are sent to internally displaced persons camps across the country, Katsina State Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Services has said.

Dalha Wada said this in a brief interview at the sideline of a security meeting in Katsina on Tuesday.

“Even today (Tuesday), the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry is coming to take delivery of some of these seized goods on humanitarian grounds. All textile materials and food items now go straight to IDP camps. We don’t benefit from such goods. And I will personally invite you to see them (goods) being taken today,” Mr Wada said.

He said more than four states, including Borno and Yobe, have received from contraband impounded in Katsina.

Mr Wada said the goods, when taken to such states, were taken directly to IDP camps.

He said from March this year when he assumed control of the command, goods worth N454, 990, 129 had been impounded.

Mr Wada said the officers of the service engage in raid to ensure smuggled goods are taken away.

He said they only break into stores after gathering intelligence from reliable people, noting that the law backs the Service to conduct such raids.

“Section 147 empowers you to search premises when you have an intelligence report of a smuggler keeping contraband. Section 148 empowers you to go into a licensed premises. Section 149 says you can stop a vehicle or ship to check for contraband.

“We don’t give prior notice to people we are suspecting because we want to be sure that we get what we want to seize. We also don’t give search warrant because that is what the law says. And we can break in at any time of the day.”