Eight Trailers Carrying Contraband Rice Seized
EightT TrailersCarrying Contraband Rice Seized
By Ebenezer William
Officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service in the South-West States of Nigeria have on separate occasions in the past month seized.
Speaking to newsmen at Zone A, Federal Operating Unit, Ikeja, the Acting Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said that the objective was twofold: to discourage potential traders from engaging in smuggling activities and to inflict financial losses on active smugglers.
According to Comptroller Adeniyi, “Agriculture, being the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, underscores the federal government’s commitment to achieving self-sustaining growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians.”
“In alignment with this commitment and the spirit of patriotism, our dedicated Officers executed a series of operations resulting in the interception and seizure of 7,029 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice. ”
“These decisive actions took place at -various times and locations within the border corridors of the South-Western Zones”.
Other items seized include 35,100 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), 1,100 litres of diesel,1 40-foot container carrying 360 bales of used clothes,1 40-foot container containing 150 cartons of ladies’ handbags, 50 bales of nickers, and other falsely declared items,1120- coller of unprocessed wood 106 cartons of foreign frozen poultry, 55 pieces of used fridges, 110 pieces of used compressors, 148 cartons of foreign soap, 121 cartons of expired hair oil, 25 units of used vehicles.
Investigations into some of these seizures are ongoing and fourteen suspects have been apprehended in connection with various offences, including violating import/export guidelines, concealment, undervaluation, wrong classification, smuggling, and contravening policy directives.
” The cumulative duty paid value of the intercepted goods amounts to an impressive One Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-five Million, Eighty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety-eight Naira (1,755,080,898)”.
“Furthermore, the Unit generated Seventy-two Million, Eight Hundred and Seven Thousand, Twenty-five Naira, Eleven Kobo (N72,807,025.11) in revenue through meticulous documentary checks and the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate customs duty”.
” Importers and licensed agents are urged to make sincere declarations. adhere to existing import and export guidelines, and avoid the risk of losing their investments. Compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic choice that ensures the smooth and efficient flow of goods across our borders.”
The Customs’ boss took time to appreciate journalists for the painstaking effort to give accurate reports about events and other happenings in the country.
