N’Central: Customs seize contraband goods worth N1.2bn
The Nigeria Customs Service, Joint Border Drill Operation, North Central zone, sector 3, Ilorin said it made a number of seizures with a Duty Paid Value of N1,207,223,380.00
The NCS said zeal and determination to implement partial closure of the Nation’s land borders, as directed by the president, has continued to make the Zone unfavorable for Smugglers.
The coordinator of the Joint Border Drill Operations, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, who disclosed this to journalists in Ilorin, said the consignments seized by patrol teams of the zone included 17,490 Bags of foreign par boiled Rice (equivalent to 29 trailers of 600) Bags each; 310 Kegs of Vegetable oil; 1 Locally made Pistol with a live cartridge; 944 Drums of AGO; 3,676 Jerry Cans of Petroleum Product of 25 liters each; 355 Bundles of Textile Materials; 28 Bags of foreign fertilizer; 66 Cartons of different brand of Beers; 67 Units of Vehicles; 78 Motor Cycles and one Keke Napep; 15 Sacks of Used Shoes; 360 tubers of yam.
Garba, who attributed the feat to the hard work of his men and synergy with Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, DSS, NIA, Nigerian Army, Office of National Security adviser and other security agencies, noted that 53 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures.
He said, “Within the period under review, a Patrol team comprising of Nigeria Customs Officers, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS, Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies raided two warehouses at ABAYAWO and ITA-MERIN areas, both in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State, suspected to stock pile with foreign par boiled Rice. The two stores were raided and a total of 450 and 224 Bags of foreign Parboiled Rice of 50kg each respectively were discovered to be smuggled in to the State.
“It will be recalled that late last month, the Patrol team covering Babanna axis of the Sector in Niger State, intercepted two Mitsubishi Canter with Reg. No XA-241-WEL and XC-166-SUL respectively laden with 54 drums of smuggled petrol with a duty paid Value (DPV) 1.9 Million with two suspects.
“In another development, one of the most exceptional seizures of today’s briefing is interception of a Tipper with Reg. No. ZAR 803 XA Carefully concealed One Hundred and Forty (140) Bags of foreign Rice in Sharp Sand which you’ve all seen in the course of taking you round of the seized goods. It is disturbing that some die hard smugglers have also resorted to using Keke Napep to smuggle rice. The Sector wishes to reiterate its stand that there is no retreat on the fight against smuggling in whatever disguise or camouflage.”
