Customs Strike Force seizes N668m worth of rice, vegetable oil In Lagos, Ogun 

Abiola Seun    |

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller General Strike Force team over the weekend seized contrabands worth N668million from smugglers in two months.

In a statement made available to journalists by  the commander, CGC strike Force, DC Yahaya Biu in Lagos , the latest seizure which showcased the unit’s achievements so far from the inception of Yahaya led Zone ‘A’ Strike Force in May 14th up till July 23rd, 2019 made available to newsmen revealed that a total seizure of 102 various contraband items with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N667,651,554.4 were made by the unit from various locations of the zone.

In the breakdown of the seizure report, rice seizure took the chunk with (22 trucks) of  13,154 bags of 50kg with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N174,320,754.4 recorded in the period under review. Others are 1,292 kegs of 25 litres of vegetable oil with N12,209,400.00 DPV, 1,754 cartons of foreign frozen products with N16,383,400.00.

Others are 17 bales of secondhand clothing with N1,224,000.00 DPV, as well as used vehicles which include five (5) Peugeot 206, fiat bus, toyota corolla, Ford Galaxy and Honda Pilot, all with a total of N6,969,000.00.

Also impounded is a container with number PCIU 8760695 containing 1,017 pieces of new LG 32” HD/LED TV with a total DPV of N101,530,000.00.  The statement also revealed a total of six  detentions are awaiting examination.

However, the Cordinator of the Strike Force, Deputy Comptroller Yahaya Usman Biu have issued stern warning to smugglers operating within the zone to desist from their illicit trade, as he noted that the team under his watch will continue to ensure that traders embrace ethics of legitimate trade and not resort to cutting corners at the detriment of the nation’s fragile economy.

He also thanked the CGC Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) led management for their support and provision of working tools, noting that these made their enforcement job easy, as they are instrumental to the achievement so far made by officers and men of the unit.