Customs seize rice, vehicles, other items worth N1.04b in Kwara
The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Command on Thursday said it had seized some items including imported rice, vehicles, textile materials, motorcycles, groundnut oil, cosmetics, Tin tomatoes, petroleum products as well as cartons of beer from smugglers.
According to the command, the seized items have a duty paid value of N1.04 billion.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chado Zakari.
He said, “In compliance with order by Mr. President on the total blockage of our land borders, the Joint Border Operations (JBOD) Sector 3 covering North Central States (Niger/Kwara/Kogi and Benue States) under leadership of Compt. Mohammed Uba Garba has continued to make the Zone unfavorable for the Smugglers which had led to 44 Seizures from March, 2020 till date.”
He continued, “The Customs and excise Management act (CEMA) Section- 147 gives power to Customs officers to search and raid any premises suspected to house with smuggled goods. The Headquarters Roving team comprising of Nigeria Customs Officers, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS, Nigeria Police and other security agencies involve in this National assignment were recently drafted to a warehouse at Abayawo Area of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State suspected to stock pile with foreign par boiled Rice. The store was raided and a total of 450 Bags of foreign Parboiled Rice of 50kg each was discovered to be smuggled in to the State, stored in residential apartment.
“The Rice was immediately evacuated to Customs warehouse Ilorin. We are still trailing those involved in the criminal act and will soon be fish out for prosecution.”
He continued, “Early hours of Thursday, the roving team also stormed ITA-MERIN Area of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State while smugglers where in the process of offloading the smuggled Rice into a residential quarters. The area was immediately Condon and the Rice were evacuated to Customs house Ilorin, after the examination, a total of 224 Bags of Rice was discovered.”
He further assured citizen that the comand will continue to sensitize and engage stakeholders on the benefit of border closure.
According to Zakari, the command intensified effort had led to evidential records of seizure which include:
•1,657 Bags of foreign par boiled Rice which brought the Total number of seized Bags of rice from August last year to 14,813 Bags of 50Kg each which is equivalent to twenty Two (22) Trailers of Rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 451, 685. 900
•282 Kegs of Vegetable oil
•898 Drums of AGO
•1355 Jerry Cans of Petroleum Product
•348 Bundles of Textile Materials
•28 Bags of foreign fertilizer
•66 Cartons of different brand of Beers
•26 Units of Vehicles
•8 Motor Cycles
He added that 45 suspects were arrested in connection to these seizures and were released on administrative bail.
The command further reiterated its stand that there is no retreat on the fight against smuggling in whatever disguise. The Coordinator therefore appeals to the general public to embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling.
