The Nigeria Customs Service has arrested four Chinese who are allegedly in the business of smuggling and storing prohibited textile materials in private warehouses at Gandun Albasa commercial Layout of Kano, Kano State.

Leader of the Comptroller General of Custom (CGC) Task Force, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Hassan Shallangwa said the operations that led to the seizure and arrest of the suspects was planned and coordinated by the Comptroller-General of Customs Dikko Inde Abdullahi,

Shallangwa said the CGC had received information which he investigated and sent undercover operatives to monitor the area until when he was certain that smuggled textile materials were being stored in some private warehouses, before he directed the Headquarters Anti-Smuggling Task Force to storm the area.

Shallangwa decried a situation where foreign nationals would chose to disrespect the laws of the land and engage in activities that can negatively affect the ongoing efforts of the government to industrialise the country and raise the standard of living of Nigerians.

“We are Nigerians and have no other country to call our own, hence will not tolerate any person, no matter where he comes from to disrespect the laws of our country,” he said.

So far, six warehouses have been opened and found to be fully stocked with smuggled assorted textile materials.

Over 20 other warehouses are suspected to be containing same items. All the warehouses are sealed and investigation into these illegalities has already commenced.

The valuation unit of the Service are presently working on the quantity and value of the seizure which is expected to run into billions of naira.

Shallangwa assured law-abiding business men and women that they have nothing to fear as the Service is not out to witch hunt any person but determined to cripple illegitimate businesses and facilitate legitimate trade.

The four Chinese persons are to be charged to court immediately.

•Photo shows Abdullahi

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