Customs’ Strike Force seizes 11 trucks of foreign rice in South West Nigeria
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| File Photo |
The Strike Force Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday seized 11 trucks loaded with smuggled foreign parboiled rice in the South West.
The strike force was
set up by the Comptroller-General of the
Nigeria Customs Service as an ad-hoc unit to complement the activities
of the border commands and the Federal Operations Unit to suppress smuggling in
the country.
set up by the Comptroller-General of the
Nigeria Customs Service as an ad-hoc unit to complement the activities
of the border commands and the Federal Operations Unit to suppress smuggling in
the country.
The special unit had in the
last three months intercepted contraband smuggled into the country through
neighboring countries worth over several billions of naira.
last three months intercepted contraband smuggled into the country through
neighboring countries worth over several billions of naira.
However, in the
recent seizure, the service also intercepted other contraband worth over N415million.
recent seizure, the service also intercepted other contraband worth over N415million.
The other seizures include
vegetable oil, second hand cloths, cartons of frozen poultry products,
unprocessed firewood, sugar to vehicles of different brands were smuggled into
the country through the land borders.
vegetable oil, second hand cloths, cartons of frozen poultry products,
unprocessed firewood, sugar to vehicles of different brands were smuggled into
the country through the land borders.
Speaking to newsmen on the
sidelines of the arrest, the National Coordinator of the Strike Force,
Abdullahi Kirawa, disclosed that the seizures were made by the CGC Strike Force team from
August 11 to September 18, 2018.
sidelines of the arrest, the National Coordinator of the Strike Force,
Abdullahi Kirawa, disclosed that the seizures were made by the CGC Strike Force team from
August 11 to September 18, 2018.
He also disclosed that the
seizures were based on credible intelligence gathered by the Customs
Intelligent Unit (CIU).
seizures were based on credible intelligence gathered by the Customs
Intelligent Unit (CIU).
Giving the breakdown of the
seized items, he said, “The seized items are second hand clothing,
640 bales of shoes in 1×40 container worth N32,000,000; 18×20 and 3×40
containers of unprocessed firewood worth N144,000,000; 2×20 containers of wet
blue worth N123,727,500, 59 bags of sugar x 50KG worth N590,000.”
seized items, he said, “The seized items are second hand clothing,
640 bales of shoes in 1×40 container worth N32,000,000; 18×20 and 3×40
containers of unprocessed firewood worth N144,000,000; 2×20 containers of wet
blue worth N123,727,500, 59 bags of sugar x 50KG worth N590,000.”
He stated further that
seven seized means of conveyance with four cars worth N6,000000, two trucks
worth N6,000,000 and one M/Ben Bus worth N1,5000,000 were as well
intercepted.
seven seized means of conveyance with four cars worth N6,000000, two trucks
worth N6,000,000 and one M/Ben Bus worth N1,5000,000 were as well
intercepted.
“Other items also
seized were frozen poultry with quantity of 45 cartons value at N225,000;
vegetable oil in 26 kegs by 10 litres value at N130,000 and 14 kegs by 25
litres value at N140,000.”
seized were frozen poultry with quantity of 45 cartons value at N225,000;
vegetable oil in 26 kegs by 10 litres value at N130,000 and 14 kegs by 25
litres value at N140,000.”
He stated further,
“The used motor vehicles seized were Madza 323 car worth N750,000; Toyota
Hilux N11,500,000; Toyota Avensis car worth N1,800,000; Lexus ES 350 value at
N2,500,000; Toyota Venza worth N5,500,000 and Ford Transit Bus loaded with
contraband goods value at N1,750,000 and 6,669 bags of rice 50kg worth N90,
000,000 were all seized.”
“The used motor vehicles seized were Madza 323 car worth N750,000; Toyota
Hilux N11,500,000; Toyota Avensis car worth N1,800,000; Lexus ES 350 value at
N2,500,000; Toyota Venza worth N5,500,000 and Ford Transit Bus loaded with
contraband goods value at N1,750,000 and 6,669 bags of rice 50kg worth N90,
000,000 were all seized.”
He urged Nigerians to patronize locally-made
products, even as he warned that the smuggled
rice was less nutritious, compared to the locally-produced rice.
products, even as he warned that the smuggled
rice was less nutritious, compared to the locally-produced rice.
He added that NCS and its
men was also not relenting especially in the ‘ember’months, as operatives of the Service work round the clock to ensure that illicit
trade did not thrive in the country.
men was also not relenting especially in the ‘ember’months, as operatives of the Service work round the clock to ensure that illicit
trade did not thrive in the country.
In order to tackle
smuggling activities around the borders, he said the NCS formed synergy with its other sister
agencies including the Nigerian Army, the Navy and the rest to track any nefarious
activities being perpetrated by smugglers.
smuggling activities around the borders, he said the NCS formed synergy with its other sister
agencies including the Nigerian Army, the Navy and the rest to track any nefarious
activities being perpetrated by smugglers.
He added: “This we do
not only with our sister agencies but with host communities at the borders. The
PR unit of the service has also engage in vigorous campaign in public
sensitisation as the dangers of smuggling.
not only with our sister agencies but with host communities at the borders. The
PR unit of the service has also engage in vigorous campaign in public
sensitisation as the dangers of smuggling.
“So we are not only
ensuring that we make arrest but we are also being proactive in ensuring
that in the first place the dangers of smuggling is made known to the general
public so that they will also avail us as good Samaritans and citizen with
information to track this things down,” he added.
ensuring that we make arrest but we are also being proactive in ensuring
that in the first place the dangers of smuggling is made known to the general
public so that they will also avail us as good Samaritans and citizen with
information to track this things down,” he added.
