Customs Intercepts N95.74m Illegally Imported Rice

customs-seizes-riceThe Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos, Alhaji Turaki Adamu, has disclosed that the unit intercepted about 11,264 bags of illegally imported rice valued at N95.74 million.

In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the unit, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, the comptroller noted, while inspecting the seized goods with a duty paid value (DPV) of N95.74 million, that the consignment was intercepted along the creek of Igbesa in Ogun State.

According to him, the seizure was a success as a result of the paradigm shift in the operational methodologies and modalities of the unit in stopping smuggling.

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He said that the unit in the early hours of September 23, uncovered a hideout in a creek at Igbesa, Ogun State, where the bags of rice were seized.

Alhaji Adamu said that the seizure was made possible by the Lagos Roving Team Operations, headed by Assistant Comptroller, Mr Adamu Mohammed.

He added that the service relied on intelligence report, which disclosed that the smugglers were planning to use the creeks to bring in large quantities of rice from the Republic of Benin.

“Sequel to this development, the comptroller and the team leader fashioned out operational modalities to ensure that there was no leakage of information to the targeted group.

“The team laid ambush for the consignment for almost three days before it struck. It is pertinent to point out that the area is reputed as both volatile and inaccessible particularly for customs and several attempts to raid the place in the past were met with stiff opposition from the hostile smugglers.

“We must place on record that smugglers had attacked customs patrol teams that attempted in the past to stop their nefarious activities”, he said.