The Nigeria Customs Service in charge of the Ogun State Area 1 Command said that the command has seized 11,358 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice within the last three months.
The Area Commander, Bamidele Makinde, who made the disclosure, also reported seizures of 1,550 pieces of used tyres and 180 bales of used clothes in a warehouse situated along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, within the period under review.
Makinde said, “The Command recorded a seizure of 11,358 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, which is about 38 Trailer loads. The period under review, the command.
“Three trucks loaded with 513 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice were intercepted during our anti-smuggling operations along Obada axis and Ibese/Itori road, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, respectively.
“In addition to the above, the Command recorded seizures of 1550 pieces of used tyres and 180 bales of used clothing in a warehouse situated along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.”
Makinde added that the estimated value of seized contrabands stood at N341 billion.
“227 seizures, comprising, 16 units of vehicles used as means of conveyance, 2 units of used vehicles, 2,706 kegs (67,650 Litres) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 8 units of Motorcycle (means of conveyance), 80 kegs of vegetable oil (25 litres each), 201 bales and 76 sacks of Second-hand clothing, 79 Sack of Used Shoes, 20 wraps of Cannabis Sativa, 89 bales of Textile (wrapper),17 Cartons of imported Tomato Paste (smuggled), 3 Cartons of imported Spaghetti Pasta (smuggled), 80 Packs of Vegetable oil (4.73 Litres each with a total Duty Paid Value of N341bn.”
He said the command was able to achieve this because of effective intelligence.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend the section of the business community which has been complying with the Federal Government fiscal policies. We assure them of our continued support by way of trade facilitation. As for diehard and would-be smugglers, we warn them to steer clear of smuggling activities as the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on any arrested perpetrators of such acts.” He said.
He advised parents and guardians to warn their children against smuggling.
