NCS strike force boss warns against use of Secondhand clothes, others

The National Co-ordinator, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Strike Force Unit, DC. Abdullahi Dahiru Kirawa, has warned the General Public on health hazards associated with second hand clothes, prohibited eatables as well as women underwear, such as braziers in particular, which are all parts of contra-band goods smuggled into the country. He gave the warning on Tuesday in Kano while parading before news men, smuggled items confiscated by the Customs’ strike force men with total Duty Paid Value of N189,692,336.00. Kirawa Warned that, health expert have revealed that, the nature of hazardous chemicals used in the preservation of such fabrics and eatables like Dates among other items, as well as the mode of packaging and conveyance, poses great dangers to human health. He said, women who patronize such second hand clothes, (braziers) are prone to contracting life threatening diseases such cancer which has claimed the lives of many. This is just as the team also confiscated over 3,797 bags of 50kg parboiled rice smuggled into Nigeria. Other Items confiscated by the unit includes; 533 Cartoons of Spaghetti, 83 Cartoons of Macaroni, 27 bags of sugar, 18 Riles of Textile, 2 bales of veils, 514 Bales of Second Hand Clothes, 407 Jerry Cans of Vegetable oil as well as 54 Vehicles used as means of conveyance. Dahiru, stressed that the team has been provided with necessary equipment, logistics and ammunitions for smooth and successful operation as a result of which, the unit has been able to achieve a lot under the period under review, appreciating the resilience and effort of the men of the unit and other units of the service working in synergy to reduce the menace of smuggling to the barest minimum if not totally eradicated. Furthermore, the strike force boss warned those who see smuggling as a lucrative business to have a change of mind towards the business considering inherent number of dangers associated with it and begin to look for another means of livelihood. Yakubu Salisu, Kano