Border Closure: Seme Customs Intercepts N1.6billion Contrabands In 11 Months

Abiola Seun |

The Seme Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) yesterday said it seized 47 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country in 2019.

In a press statement made available to newsmen by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Husaini Abdulahi, the Customs Area Controller of Seme, Compt. Muhammed Uba said the seized rice which is equivalent of 28,180 bags of rice worth N778million.

According to the statement, the command made a total seizure of N1.6billion which include vehicles, used clothing, textiles and Vegetable oil.

The statement read, ” Compt. Uba mentioned that, within the period of eleven months reviewed, the command anti-smuggling operations yielded a total of 1,302 seizures with the duty paid value (DPV) of N 1,6billion.”

“These seizures include the following; 28,180x50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to 47 trailers load with DPV plus levy of N778million; Sugar 140x50kg with DPV N588,000; 62 used vehicles and means of conveyance worth N220million.

Others are 1,100 bales of used clothing and 101 sacks of used clothing worth N70million; 185 sacks of shoes, bags, belt, slippers both new and used worth N28billion.

The command also intercepted smuggled textile materials worth N11million and frozen poultry worth N49million.

“1,539 bales of 6yrd, 30bales of 7yards, 16bales of 6yards textile materials and wrappers worth N11million, 5,489 cartons of frozen poultry products worth N49million, 397 kegs of 25litred of vegetable oil, 9 kegs of 10litres and 37 kegs of 5litres of vegetable oil worth N139million and 2,109 kegs of 25litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) worth N8million.

“General merchandise worth14, 955 items with DPV of N 234million, hard drugs narcotics 1992 parcels DPV N38billion.”

He attributed the harvest of seizures recorded during the period under review to the strategic policy measures put in place to tackle the menace of smuggling, irregular migrations and other trans-border crimes.

He further reiterated his commitment of ensuring that smuggling business becomes unattractive through vigorous community and public enlightenment, sensitization on the dangers of smuggling and its impact on economy and national security.

The comptroller urged economic saboteurs to take the advantage of various federal government programs on agriculture such as anchored borrowers for rice farming, growth enhancement support scheme (GESS), government enterprises and empowerment program (GEEP) and many others and key into for legitimate earning.

Similarly, the command collected the sum of N4.9billion from January till date, representing 76% of its annual allotted target of N 6.5billion the amount which is lower compared to N5billion recorded same period of 2018, the shortfalls is as a result of border drill exercise that was initiated by federal government, which commenced 20th August this year, placing temporary embargo on movement of goods through the land borders nationwide.