The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone 'C' of the Nigeria Customs Service, Friday in Owerri displayed contraband worth over N226.5 million it seized from smugglers in March.
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Controller of the unit, Mr. Victor Dimka, said the contraband were intercepted at various locations within the South-South and South-Eastern states.
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Dimka said the NCS had beefed up its operations and surveillance against smugglers, saying that smuggling was a threat to the nation's economic growth.
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He said: "The Federal Government is doing everything possible to see that more people are employed; the youths have no reason to engage in smuggling."
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"The war against smuggling is now stiffer than ever before. We will not rest on our oars until we rid this zone of smugglers," he said.
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Dimka said that innovative strategies and the use of modern technology would be employed in the fight to rid the nation of smugglers.
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"There is high level government intervention going on to equip the Anti-Smuggling Squad of this unit to do the jobs better.
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"My mandate is to personally lead the onslaught against this cankerworm called smuggling that ruins our economy, " he said.
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Dimka said that nine smugglers caught by his men had been charged to court, while their seized items would soon be up for auction to members of the public.
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The seized items according to the Comptroller include 230 bales of second hand clothes, 15 bales of second handbags and two bales of second hand belts seized along Aba/Elele axis.
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Also displayed were 3363 cartons of imported frozen chicken which ordinarily would earn Nigeria N32.9 million in duty and 30 bales of second hand clothes concealed in a haulage truck.
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About 200 cartons of imported frozen turkey and chicken were impounded along Calabar axis, while 911 bales of second hand clothes were seized along Aba/Eleme Road.
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Also impounded were 300 pieces of used tyres, 56 pieces of used compressors, 210 pieces of second hand tyres and 190 pairs of used footwear.