Customs intercepts drugs, smuggled rice worth N85m in Lagos, Ogun

Abiola Seun

The Federal Operations Unit, (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it intercepted banned drugs, smuggled rice worth N85 Million between three weeks

This was even as the unit said it intercepted 4,208 bags of smuggled foreign Rice worth N55.3 million that was concealed with tubers of cassava, animal feed and bottle of alcoholic products.

Speaking to journalists, the Customs Area Controller of the unit, Compt. Muhammed Aliyu said the contraband were seized while trying to move from Oyo state to Lagos.

According to him, due to the joint security operation at the land borders in the country, EXERCISE SWIFT RESPONSE, the smugglers have found it difficult to smuggle rice into the country hence, they are moving the one already stored in the country.

He said, “We have some rice stalled in villages that they are bringing out little by little because of the joint security operation at the border. Now, we see them concealing contraband with poisonous substances such as soap, animal feeds and even alcoholic drinks.

“For instance, this is a truck containing soap but when you go inside, it’s not soap but was used for concealing rice. The truck contains 210 bags of smuggled rice but the soap is just a cover. I called you to see the means of concealment, the extent people can go to bring in contraband into the country.”

The CAC who disclosed that drugs with no NAFDAC numbers were intercepted in the last one week.

He said, “drugs such as 3,888 sachets of bisoprolol Fumarate, 300 bottles of Lactulose, 600 sachets of Atorvastatin, 2,000 bottles of mandanol nasal drop and 10,800 sachets of Furosemide.

Others are 279 Dihydrocodeine, 744 Kenalog 40mg injection, 300 cartons of Lansoprazole, 560 sachets clopidogrel, 1,764 contiflo and 320 sachets meloxicam among others.”

He however warned Corporate organisations to install trackers on their vehicles to forestall unscrupulous drivers from using the branded vehicles for rice smuggling.

“You know that the first one i showed was tubers of rotten cassava and yams to conceal rice. I also showed you soap, animal feeds and cartons of beer used to conceal rice. These are enough to get the rice poisoned and bad for human consumption.

When asked whether the seized items came in through the land borders despite the joint security operation, the Customs boss said smuggling activities has reduced drastically.

“The smuggled rice, drugs are not coming from the land border but within a week, the unit has intercepted 4,208 bags that is to show you that the rice smuggling is going down due to the activities at the borders.”

Speaking on branded vehicles used for smuggling rice and drugs, he said, “We have told the companies to put tracker on their trucks so that they can monitor movement but because they don’t do such, the drivers used it for nefarious activities.

“Also, the truck and contents are seizure because they are means of conveyance,” he said