Customs seize rice, other items worth N568m

The Nigeria Customs Service, North Central zone, on Thursday said it had seized some items including imported rice, vehicles, tramadol, petroleum products as well as second hand bags from smugglers.

According to the command, the seized items have a duty paid value of N568.8 million.

The coordinator in charge of the zone, Comptroller Mohammed Una Garba, announced this while displaying the seized items before newsmen in Kwara State.

He said, “We recognize the critical role the media have been playing especially in the area of sensitization and enlightenment of our Stakeholders and the society at large. This is why we called for this briefing to partner with the media in order to achieve willful compliance from the public as well as to showcase the Success recorded by the Sector.

“It is no longer news that the Federal Government on the 20th of August, 2019 to be precise, partially closed all Land Borders for betterment of the Nation’s economy, security of the citizen and for our neighboring countries to abide by ECOWAS Protocols. Part of our mandate is to stop fuel supply to 20 kilometer radius to Border communities, the mandate which we will implement to the latter.

“We took it as our first point of duty to visit and sensitize the border communities, Traditional Rulers, Rural dwellers, IPMAN and other Critical Stakeholders on the benefits of border closure. During the visit, three (3) Trucks; one of lubricant Oil and two (2) Petrol Tankers that were found to have genuine documents and did not operate within 20km radius were unconditionally released to the owners.

He further said the border closure “is not targeted at anyone, individual, group of persons or any community
but for the protection of the Nation’s economy”.

He reiterate their commitment to
treat those who engage in snuggling as criminals, “We will continue to police our area of operations in line with the Federal Government directives on partial closure of our National Borders.”

According to the coordinator, the Sector 3 intensified effort had led to evidential records of seizure which include:

Ten Thousand Two Hundred and One (10,201) Foreign Par boil Rice of 50kg each with Duty paid Value of One Hundred and Seventy Three Million Four Hundred and Seventeen Thousands (N173, 417,000.00) equal to 12 trailers of Rice;

Fifty Two (52) different types of Used Vehicles, Trucks, Trailers and other vehicles used for conveying Contraband goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Eighty Eight Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N88,854,500);

Five Hundred and Sixty one (561) Drums of Petrol with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Nine Million Four Hundred and Eighty Naira (N9,480,000.00);

One Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Thousand (1,670) tablets of Tramadol of 200mg each and Two Packs of Rebozel Drugs Containing 500 tablet each with cost value of One Hundred and Sixty Five Million Naira (N165,000,000) (The said Drugs were handed over to NAFDAC);

One Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty Four (1,524) Jerricans of Petrol with Duty Paid Value of Twelve Million Six Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Naira (12,633,250.00);

Eleven (11) Motorcycles used to conveyed Smuggled goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Nine Hundred Fifty Thousand Naira (N950,000.00);

Ninety-Four (94) Pieces of Poisonous Charlie Toothpaste with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Thirty Three Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Naira (N33,840.00);

Sixty Eight (68) Tins of Jago Condensed Milk with Duty Paid Value (DPV) Sixty Five Thousand Two Hundred and Eighty Naira (N65,280.00);

Eighty (80) Pieces of washing Soap with Duty Paid Value of Nine thousand six hundred Naira (N9,600);

One Hundred and Twenty-Eight (128) Pieces of poisonous “Read a Dream” Insecticide with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Ninety two Thousand one hundred and Sixty Naira (N92,160.00);

Eighty-Five (85) Kegs of Vegetable Oil of 25 liter each with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Two Million and Seven Thousand Naira (N2,070,000.00);

Nineteen Bales (19) of Second Hand Clothing and Shoes with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Nine Hundred and Twelve Thousand Naira (N912,000.00);

Forty-Two (42) Sacks of Female Second Hand Bags with Duty paid Value (DPV) of One Million and Eight Thousand Naira (N1,008,000.00);

During the period under review Two Hundred and Four (204) illegal migrants were repatriated, this include- 99 Nigeriens, 100 Beniniose, 3 Malians, 2 Chinese.

Garba said Eleven (11) suspects were arrested in connection to these seizures and were released on administrative bail.

He said border closure has improve security-banditry, Kidnapping, Smuggling, illegal migrants and likewise increase in Revenue Generation.