By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
AMID hunger and exorbitant cost of rice, a staple food in Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of nine trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice and 13 foreign used vehicles allegedly smuggled into the country from the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday, the Customs Area Controllers, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Acting Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, said 18,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 376 bales of used clothes were also seized in November 2023.
Other contraband seized were 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products, 337 pieces of used compressors, and 3 40-foot containers found to contain 3,838 pieces of used tyres.
Others were 13 fairly used vehicles, also known as tokunbo and 396 cartons of frozen fish, all with a duty-paid value (DPV) of N873million.
Ejibunu, however, disclosed that his officers intercepted a Toyota Highlander with an ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice in Ogun State.
“Ingenious concealment is an activity that plays a significant role in smuggling operations. It allows smugglers to hide illicit goods from detection by concerned authorities.
“It is important to note that smuggling is illegal and a crime that has negative social, economic, and security implications.
“It is our resolve to continuously work hard to improve detection methods with the aid of intelligence.
“The strategic deployment of officers with intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations led to the arrest of a Toyota Highlander and the ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Iju-Ojuore, Ogun State.
“These seizures reflect our commitment to the discharge of our functions, aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products from entering our domestic markets.
“Other goods that were seized within November are 5,459 bags of 50kg of foreign bags of rice (equivalent to 9 truckloads); 18,100 litres of premium motor spirit; 376 bales of used clothes; 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products; and 337 pieces of used compressors.
“Also seized are three 40-foot containers found to contain 3,838 pieces of used tyres; 13 used vehicles, also known as tokunbo; and 396 cartons of frozen fish,” he disclosed.
Ejibunu further noted that N71.2 million was generated through demand notices on consignments that paid lesser duties at the Lagos Port.
“On revenue, the sum of N71,254,984.71 was generated through conscious and thorough documentary checks, followed by the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate customs duty.
“The total duty-paid value of the seized goods stood at N872,575,250. While a total of 11 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the suspects, smuggling operations that employ ingenious concealment methods can have a chance of successfully trafficking illegal goods across borders or checkpoints without being noticed.
“This calls for the collaborative efforts of all citizens to support the service by providing useful and timely information that would aid the anti-smuggling drive,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Stonix News reports that ahead of the Yuletide, a 50kg bag of perboiled rice now goes for about N60,000 in the South West of Nigeria with many household lacking the purchasing power.
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