Customs intercept nine trailer loads of rice, poultry products worth N872m in Ogun

As part of anti-smuggling drive in Yuletide, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A has seized nine trailer loads of 50 kilogramme foreign bags of rice; 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products and 18,100 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS).

The seizure, alongside other items worth N872 million, was made from smugglers in Ogun State. The customs unit also impounded a Toyota Highlander with an ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Iju-Ojuore, Ogun State. It also arrested 11 suspects in connection with some of the smuggled items.

Other items include 376 bales of used clothes and 337 pieces of used compressors as well as three 40ft containers containing 3,838 pieces of used tyres; 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo) and 396 cartons of frozen fish.

Displaying the seized items at the customs warehouse in Ikeja, Lagos, the Acting Controller, FOU Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu, said the strategic deployment of officers with intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations led to the discovery.

Ejibunu said ingenious concealment is an activity that plays a significant role in smuggling operations and allows perpetrators to hide illicit goods.

He said the seizures reflect customs’ commitment to the discharge of its functions aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products into domestic markets.

On revenue collection, Ejibunu said N71.2 million was generated through thorough documentary checks, followed by the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate duty.

The controller said it is the customs’ resolve to work hard towards improving detection methods with the aid of intelligence. He urged citizens to support the service by providing useful and timely information to curb smuggling.