Rice sized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
During the holiday season, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A has taken action against smuggling. They seized nine trailer loads containing 50-kilogram foreign rice bags, 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products, and 18,100 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS).
The total value of the seized items, along with others, amounts to N872 million. The operation took place in Ogun State, where the customs unit also confiscated a Toyota Highlander with cleverly hidden suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice in Iju-Ojuore. Additionally, 11 suspects linked to the smuggling of these items were arrested.
Various other items were confiscated, including 376 bales of used clothes, 337 pieces of used compressors, three 40ft containers with 3,838 pieces of used tires, 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo), and 396 cartons of frozen fish.
These seized items were showcased at the customs warehouse in Ikeja, Lagos, by Hussein Ejibunu, the Acting Controller of FOU Zone A. He highlighted that the success in uncovering these items was due to the strategic deployment of officers engaged in intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations.
Ejibunu emphasized the significance of cleverly concealing goods as a common practice in smuggling operations, allowing wrongdoers to hide illicit items.
The seizures, according to him, underscore the customs’ commitment to safeguarding the nation’s economy by preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products into domestic markets.
In terms of revenue collection, Ejibunu mentioned that N71.2 million was generated through thorough checks of documents. This was followed by issuing demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid less than the appropriate duty.
Ejibunu expressed the customs’ determination to enhance detection methods with the aid of intelligence. He encouraged citizens to support the service by providing useful and timely information to help combat smuggling.