Customs intercepts 1,825 bags of foreign rice

1,825 bags of foreign rice and other commodities were intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, from smugglers in Katsina State in May 2018.

The Comptroller of the unit, Alhaji Usman Dakingari, made this known to newsmen in Katsina on Wednesday.

He said that the service seized 35 vehicles used by the smugglers in bringing the commodities into the country.

The controller also said that the service impounded 1,175 bags of sugar; 1,750 cartons of spaghetti; and 98 jerry cans of vegetable oil during the period under review.

“Our efforts to prevent smuggling has been challenging and rewarding.

“Smugglers are using various ways to do their illegal business. We are working and making progress,’’ Dakingari said.

Dakingari noted that rice smuggling in the country had reduced due to intensified efforts of Customs.

He advised consumers with a high taste for foreign rice to change their habit because they did not know when the commodity was produced.

“It is not the production and expiry dates that matter; most smugglers re-bag the rice and write expiry date to deceive customers,’’ the Controller said.

Dakingari explained that the government banned importation of foreign rice to encourage local production and safeguard the health of the citizens.