Customs intercepts 18,100 litres PMS, nine trailer loads of foreign rice, others worth N872m

By Seun Ibiyemi

The Federal Operations Unit FOU Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it intercepted 5,459 bags of 50kg foreign rice equivalent to 9 trailer loads, 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products and other various contraband in the month of November 2023.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, Acting Controller of the unit, Hussein Ejibunu, said operatives of the unit through the aid of intelligence also arrested a Toyota Highlander with an ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Iju-Ojuore, Ogun State.

Giving a breakdown of other goods seized within the review period, Ejibunu said they included 18,100 litres of premium motor spirit, 376 bales of used clothes, 337 pieces of used compressors, 3 X 40 ft containers found to contain 3,838 pieces of used tyres, 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo) and 396 cartons of frozen fish with a duty paid value of N872,575,250.

“It is our resolve to continuously work hard to improve detection methods with the aid of intelligence.

“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.

“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,” the Customs boss said.

Ejibunu said a total of 11 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures.

On revenue, he said the sum of N71,254,984.71 was generated through documentary checks, followed by the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate Customs duty.