Customs seizes N1.3bn smuggled goods, arrests seven

The Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 22,526 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg and seized 392 items including five exotic luxury buses smuggled into the country through the Ohumbe land border between January and June 2023.

The Customs Area Controller, Bamidele Makinde, said this on Tuesday while addressing the press on the 2023 achievement of the command in six months. He stated that 392 seizures were made with the cumulative Duty Paid Value of N1,313,628,488 during the period.

According to him, seven suspected smugglers were arrested for smuggling activities within the months under review.

“The 22,526 bags of foreign parboiled rice were intercepted in Ipokia, Ilara, Imeko, among other border areas in the state.

“During the period under review, we made a total seizure of 392 items which comprises 5,048 pieces of used tyres; 390 bales of used clothing; 61 units of vehicles including five luxury buses; 173,975 litres of petrol, an equivalent of five tanker loads; 107 sacks and 1,595 wraps of cannabis sativa; 167 cartons of 100x100ml and 27 cartons of 200x100ml codeine syrup.

“The command generated the sum of N93,301,130 from import duties; auction sales of Premium Motor Spirit, and scrap vehicles seized from smugglers. A comparative analysis of the command’s performance during the period under review and the corresponding period of 2022, indicates a significant increase in revenue

“We remain resolute in our fight against smuggling of rice and other prohibited items in order to encourage local production in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria policy on local production,” Makinde said.