No fewer 6,743 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, equivalent to 11 trailer loads, were intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command.
This development was made known by the Area Controller, Bamidele Makinde, during a press briefing in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Tuesday.
Makinde briefed newsmen of the activities of the command in the last two months at the meeting.
According to the Area Controller, the command generated a total sum of N28,445,757 through import duties and auction sales of scrap vehicles and petroleum products between January and February of this year.
He added that the command generated the sum of N231,218,506.00 as the Duty Payable Value (DPV) of 115 seizures during the period under review.
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The seizures were made at different locations such as Abeokuta, Ilaro and Ipokia/Idiroko axis, according to Makinde.
He listed the items that were intercepted as Motor Spirit (PMS), 18 units of used vehicles used as means of conveyance, 64 sacks and 824 wraps of Cannabis Sativa suspected to be Indian hemp.
Others are 10 big pieces and 19 small pieces of artefacts, 73 bales of second-hand clothing, 900 pieces of foreign used tyres, 520 cartons of foreign poultry products among others.
Makinde said, “relentless anti-smuggling campaign of the command has continued to improve the seizure profile.
He said, “the command is committed to facilitating legitimate trade. We value the business community and their contribution to the economy of the nation.”
While assuring business owners of his continuous support in all aspects of their trading activities, he urged them to avoid illicit trades that could negatively affect the economy and tarnish their reputation.
He warned recalcitrant and would-be smugglers to steer clear of smuggling activities, saying anyone caught in the act would be made to face the full weight of the law.