Customs Seize Nine Trailer Loads Of Rice, Others In Ogun (See Photos)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of nine trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice and 13 foreign used vehicles smuggled into the country from the neighbouring Benin Republic.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday, the Customs Area Controllers, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Acting Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, said 18,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 376 bales of used clothes were also seized in November 2023.
Other contraband seized are 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products, 337 pieces of used compressors, and 3 40-foot containers found to contain 3,838 pieces of used tyres.
Others are 13 fairly used vehicles, also known as tokunbo and 396 cartons of frozen fish, all with a duty-paid value (DPV) of N873million.
Ejibunu, however, disclosed that his officers intercepted a Toyota Highlander with an ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice in Ogun State.
He said, “Ingenious concealment is an activity that plays a significant role in smuggling operations. It allows smugglers to hide illicit goods from detection by concerned authorities. It is important to note that smuggling is illegal and a crime that has negative social, economic, and security implications.
It is our resolve to continuously work hard to improve detection methods with the aid of intelligence. The strategic deployment of officers with intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations led to the arrest of a Toyota Highlander and the ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Iju-Ojuore, Ogun State.
These seizures reflect our commitment to the discharge of our functions, aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products from entering our domestic markets.
Other goods that were seized within November are 5,459 bags of 50kg of foreign bags of rice (equivalent to 9 truckloads); 18,100 litres of premium motor spirit; 376 bales of used clothes; 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products; and 337 pieces of used compressors.
