Customs seize foreign rice worth N12.5 million

- Nigerian Customs says it intercepted 506 bags of foreign rice smuggled into the country

- The command’s controller, Nasir Ahmad, said the bags of rice were intercepted by its command in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara zone

- The controller said smugglers have deployed different tactics in carrying out their activities and to store smuggled items

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said its command in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara zone had intercepted 506 bags of foreign rice concealed in bags of beans smuggled into the country.

The command’s Controller, Mr Nasir Ahmad, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Sokoto, and said that the seized consignment had payable duty value of N12.5 million.

Ahmad said that the items were intercepted on Friday by officers of the command on patrol along Sokoto-Illela road.

He said that the command had competent intelligent officers, investigating specialised activities.

The controller explained that smugglers deployed different tactics in perpetrating their illegal businesses and reassured the public of the command’s readiness to confront smuggling and enforce government regulations.

He called on people residing in border communities to assist Customs authorities with useful information to combat smuggling of goods into the country.

“The present case is different as smugglers packaged two bags of rice in bigger beans bag disguising that they were conveying beans in the truck,” Ahmad said.

According to him, smugglers are using various structures, including residential buildings, to store smuggled items in peace-meal before uploading to a truck.

Ahmad said smuggling was crippling the nation’s economy as it deprived it of revenue, crippled industrial growth, endangered population and employment.

He commended Comptroller-General and officers of the Service for supporting anti-smuggling and revenue generation drive of the present administration.

According to an earlier report by NAIJ.com, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) had three of its men seriously injured after an attack on them by suspected smugglers in Ogun state on Thursday, November 23.

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The injured officers were rushed to the hospital according to the area commander of the service in the state, Sanni Madugu.

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