The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’,Owerri seized a total of 1,777 cartons of fake and sub standard drugs(Super Mebendazole and Levamisole Hydrochloride) without NAFDACregistration, manufacturing batch numbers and expiration dates, and otheritems worth Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Two hundred and fifty million, sixhundred and seventy-six thousand and three hundred naira (#250,676,300.00)million. The Customs Area Controller of the FOU Zone ‘C’, Comptroller Dimka VictorDavid fsi disclosed this while showcasing the latest seizures recordedby the zone at the Customs Government Warehouses in Owerri and Benin; andsaid that the truck conveying the super mebendazole tablets wasimpounded on the Benin/Edo expressway consequent upon a tip off by somepatriotic individuals, adding that the drug barons on sighting his men ata close range quicklyabandoned the exhibits and fled into a nearby bush, although the driverof the truck was arrested and is helping in the investigation. Dimka who promptly handed over the seized items to the Directors of NAFDACin-charge of Imo and Edo states Messrs Mammael Victor and David West forfurther investigation on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs,Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, expressed concern at the rampant cases ofsmuggling of illicit, unregistered, controlled drugs and contraband goodsin the country despite the obvious severe consequences on those arrested. Dimka who also displayed 193 bales of fairly used Jumbo School bags seizedby his men and 780 bales of second hand clothing impounded on theEleme/Aba Road disclosed that used and expired tyres criminally smuggledinto the country were similarly seized because of their obviousimplications to human lives. While displaying other items seized, such as assorted types of furniture,599 bags of 50kg long grain parboiled rice and 182 flashy vehicles,regretted that while many Nigerians preoccupy themselves with ideas tomove the nation forward, and to acquire a decent means of livelihood,others shamelessly engage themselves in acts capable of bringing thenation to ruins. He therefore warned smugglers, their agents and collaborators to turn anew leaf before the long arm of the law catches up with them, informingall that the Nigeria Customs Service is now better equipped, informed,trained and mobilized to dislodge smugglers wherever they hibernate andoperate. He also appealed to members of the public with useful information aboutsmugglers to always make them available to nearest Customs Command fornecessary action pledging that such information would be treated withutmost confidentiality.