Customs Seizes N1.035bn Smuggled Rice, Petrol, Tokunbo Vehicles In 1 Month

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, said it intercepted contraband worth N1.025billion in one month.

The contraband intercepted are, 12 trucks of smuggled foreign parboiled rice; 1,236 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 2 container load of woods; 4 units of tokunbo vehicles; vegetable oil and 54 bales of second hand clothing.

Speaking to Journalists, the acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Compt. Hussein Ejibunu, also disclosed that the unit impounded a truck load of Indian Hemp around the Lekki area of Lagos brought in by boat from Ghana.

He said, “Detentions and seizures recorded within the period under review amounted to 79 seizures, with a total Duty Paid Value, DPV of N1.025billion. these seizures are products of surveillance, intelligence gathering and regular patrols. 

“They were intercepted at different times and locations within border corridors of the South-Western Zone and notable among the seizures are: 6,861 X 50 kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 12 trailer loads);

1,236 jerry cans; 25 litres (30,900 litres) of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS; 9,857 parcels (5,338 kg) of cannabis sativa and 2 X 20 containers of unprocessed wood.”

“Others are four units of used vehicles (Tokunbo), 40 X 5 jerry cans of vegetable oil and 54 bales of second hand clothing, four suspects were arrested in connection with some of the intercepted goods,” he noted.

Ejibunu, however, disclosed that the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Sentence some smugglers to prison for assaulting officers on duty.

“4 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the intercepted goods. For ongoing prosecution of suspects, the Federal High Court at Abeokuta-Ogun, sentenced Musa Oloyede, Fishing Godwin David and Adeniyi Alaye, to two years imprisonment for assaulting our officers while carrying out their statutory duties. 

“On revenue, the sum of N38.35million 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.”

“Consequent to the social effect of cannabis sativa on the youths, it becomes very worrisome that a total of 9,857 parcels were seized ina single swoop. Crime experts have found a direct relationship between the intake of this controlled plant and violent crimes. We are conscious of this challenge and will continually cut the supply chain of illicit drugs and other prohibited substances.” 

“I want to urge all patriotic Nigerians to promptly share useful information with our operatives that will assist to checkmate the menace of smuggling. Since smuggling is a crime that deals in illegal trade, such as illicit drugs and prohibited weapons, Nigerians should see insecurity and other crimes as products of smuggling. The perpetrators should be considered as common enemies of the land that must be jointly fought by all citizens.”