Customs intercepts N30bn smuggled rice, used vehicles from Seme, Idiroko borders

Abiola Seun |

One month after the Federal Government re-opened the land borders for economic activities, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), yesterday said it intercepted smuggled foreign parboiled rice, used vehicles, textiles materials as well as Indian hemp worth over N30billion smuggled into the country from Benin Republic.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, the acting Customs Area Controller, FOU, Zone A, Ag. Compt. Usman Yahaya said the contrabands were intercepted between January 1st 2021 till date.

However, insider sources have revealed that the seized items came in through the porous border points manned by Seme, Idiroko and Oyo/Osun commands of the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to him, also intercepted were fake and unregistered phamaciticals that worth N51million along Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State as well as Indian hemp smuggled from Ghana to Iseyin in Oyo state.

He said, “After the opening of Seme border by the Federal Government, the smugglers thought they could cash on it to perpetrate their evil act, but the unit left them with heavy loses as evidenced in the seizures.”

Giving account, he said a total of 142,677 seizures of different items were intercepted even as he vowed never to relent in making the environment uncodusive for smugglers.

His words, ” A quick glance at the period under review, the Unit intercepted and seized a total of 142,677 of different items.

” 41,652 bags of 50kg smuggled parboiled rice from Idiroko, Ipokia, Imeko, Iseyin, Igbo-Ora and Seme;

1,356 bags of 25kg smuggled parboiled rice; 4,529kg of Indian hemp smuggled from Ghana to Islington in Oyo State worth N710million.

Others are, 66 packs of Tramadol and other unregistered phamaciticals products; 5,849 cartons of fake drugs; 266 units of means of conveyance and 218 used vehicles.

Also intercepted according to the AG. CAC are, 1,660 bales of textiles materials; 2,152 kegs of 25kg vegetable oil falsely declared at the seaport of Apapa and Tin-Can Island port and 6,985 cartons of frozen poultry products, and 985 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were seized.

The CAC, who said he arrested 44 suspected smugglers, declared that economic saboteurs await harder times.

His words, “We arrested 44 suspects in connection with the seizures but as a Unit, we will continue to re-strategize to ensure that smugglers don’t have a hiding place. Instead of incurring losses, I will advise smugglers to embrace legitimate business and become responsible citizens.”