The Nigeria customs service, Niger/Kogi area command has apprehended two trucks of illegally imported rice worth N32.9 million.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the command’s acting Comptroller MI Jalo, says the stride in arrested heavy trucks loaded with illegally smuggled items is the third this year.
“In his continuation to strategies measures towards reducingthe rate of Rice smuggling and other illegal goods into Niger/Kogi area Commandof Nigeria Customs Service and the Country at large, the Customs areaController Compt. Abba-Kasim Yusuf has for the third time this year arrestedtrucks conveying a total number of one thousand nine hundred and forty (1,940) bagsof foreign parboiled Rice of 50Kg each worth thirty two million nine hundredeighty thousand (N32, 980,000)” the statement read in part.
In a similar operation, the command said it has arrested Dangote truck conveying 520 bags of foreign riceworth N8, 840,000 and 50 bags of sugar worth N 697,000 early this year.
“Barely three (3) days after the seizure, a truck with REG. KRD 425 XM T425 LAFARGE loaded with Seven Hundred and Twenty (720) Bags of foreign parboiled Rice 50kg misconstrued to be transporting Cement was intercepted along Bida-Minna Road worth Twelve Million Two Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N12,240,000)”, the statement added.
The statement quoted the command comptroller Abba-Kasim as reiterating the will of the command to continue to frustrate smuggling activities within its jurisdiction especially during the sallah period.
“Sallah (Ed-el-Kabir) festival is around the corner, those who want to take advantage of this period to bring-in rice and other uncustoms goods should think twice, as there will be no hidden place for them due to the new patrol strategies explored by the area Command in line with the Comptroller General of Customs directives against illegal perpetrators who are bent on derailing the Nation’s economy”, the statement asserts.
