…Impounds 7 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice worth over N360M
The Federal Operations Unit, FOU Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has intercepted three export bound trucks headed to Benin Republic ladened with eight hundred and eighty (880) bags of white beans, five hundred and eighty four (584) bags of Onions and eighteen (18) bags of dry pepper.
The Customs Area Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Kayode Ejibunu who disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos recently informed that the goods were intercepted at Ajilete – Idiroko road in Ogun State by the anti-smuggling arm of the Unit.
Ejibunu, however, revealed that rather than seizing the food items, the Unit ensured that the trucks were redirected to the Nigerian markets where they were sold to Nigerians by the owners.
“In line with the federal government policy at ensuring food security for its teeming population as well as address the high cost of living, which the Comptroller General of Customs and the management are pursuing with vigour, this unit has demonstrated its passion and willingness to cross the Ts and dot the Is in fighting smuggling. That explains the drastic reduction in rice smuggling and fuel bunkering”, he added.
The CAC pointed out that following the violations of various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the federal government import and export prohibition guidelines, the Unit rigorously and relentlessly prosecuted its anti-smuggling campaign which resulted in the total number of ninety three (93) seizures and the arrest of nine (9) suspects made to prevent smuggling and protect the national economy.
“The seizures made are worth the total Duty Paid Value of Seven hundred and fifty one million, one hundred and twenty seven naira, twenty five Kobo (N751,000,127.25). These outcomes were achieved despite the unrepentant behaviours of the economic saboteurs who deploy many tricks and antics to beat our operatives to the game.
“A reference case is the foreign parboiled rice in petroleum jerrycans along Ajilete in Ogun State which is not only illegal but also exposing the potential consumers to the risk of eating contaminated grains that have ingested poisonous substances possibly from Premium Motor Spirit, diesel or other petroleum products.
“We also prevented the smuggling of eleven (11) exotic used vehicles at various locations such as Oja Odan in Ogun State, Ajebandele-Ore-Lagos-Benin Expressway and Igando waterside in Lagos State worth over two hundred million naira (N200,000,000) into the country through our area of responsibility. Smugglers of these vehicles met our stiff resistance against their duty evasion and deviant behavior.
“The sum of Seventy eight million, one hundred and sixty four thousand,two hundred and twenty five naira, twenty Kobo (N78,164,225.20) was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices in customs duty that were discovered to have been underpaid”, Ejibunu revealed.
Informing that rice, as usual, was top on the list of the seizures made by the Unit in February 2024 in terms of volume and value, the FOU Zone A helmsman further disclosed that a total of three thousand, seven hundred and seventy nine (3,779) by 50kg bags of suspected foreign rice equivalent to over seven (7) trailer loads worth over three hundred and sixty five million (N365,000,000) were seized from various parts of South -West such as Ajilete, Oja Odan, Ilaro, Idiroko in Ogun State, Igbeti-Iseyin-Igagan in Oyo State, Gbaji, Agbara from Seme axis.
Other items seized in the month under review, according to the CAC included one (1) locally made gun and six (6) pieces of empty cartridges seized at Abeokuta road, about seven hundred and thirty one (731) parcels of Indian Hemp at Ajilete weighing four hundred and eighty two (482) kilograms, 1×40 foot container found to contain two hundred and eighty six (286) cartons of new rubber slippers, seven (7) units of used motorcycles, twenty eight thousand (28,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit seized at Owode-Idiroko road as well as two thousand, four hundred and twenty (2,420) pieces of used pneumatic tyres.
“As we approach the Easter celebration, we have strengthened our intelligence led anti-smuggling operation strategies to forestall any attempt by the smugglers and duty evaders to circumvent the law”, Ejibunu assured.
Photo: Comptroller Kayode Ejibunu, Customs Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit, FOU Zone A showcasing some of the seized items to Journalists At the Unit’s headquarters in Lagos recently.
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