Customs Seizes Over 22,000 Bags of Rice, 392 Other Items in Ogun

Patrick OdeyJuly 12, 2023

1 minute read

The Ogun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made a huge haul of contraband items in the first half of 2023, including over 22,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice and five exotic luxury buses smuggled into the country through the Ohumbe land border.

The command also arrested seven suspected smugglers for their involvement in illegal activities.

The Customs Area Controller, Bamidele Makinde, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing the press on the achievements of the command in the last six months.

He said the command recorded 392 seizures with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,313,628,488.

He listed some of the seized items as follows: 5,048 pieces of used tyres; 390 bales of used clothing; 61 units of vehicles including five luxury buses; 173,975 litres of petrol, an equivalent of five tanker loads; 107 sacks and 1,595 wraps of cannabis sativa; 167 cartons of 100x100ml and 27 cartons of 200x100ml codeine syrup.

Mob Kills UI First-Class Graduate over Bread Theft

He added that the command generated N93,301,130 from import duties; auction sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and scrap vehicles seized from smugglers. He said this represented a significant increase in revenue compared to the corresponding period of 2022.

Makinde said the command was determined to curb smuggling of rice and other prohibited items in order to support the Federal Government’s policy on local production and economic diversification.

He said, “The 22,526 bags of foreign parboiled rice were intercepted in Ipokia, Ilara, Imeko, among other border areas in the state. We remain resolute in our fight against smuggling of rice and other prohibited items in order to encourage local production in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria policy on local production.”

He commended the officers and men of the command for their dedication and professionalism in carrying out their duties. He also thanked the media and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support.

He appealed to the public to desist from smuggling and patronizing smuggled goods as they pose a threat to national security and economic development. He urged them to report any suspicious activities or persons to the nearest customs formation or call the command’s toll-free number: 0800-CUSTOMS.