Ogun Customs intercept 3,154 smuggled bags of rice

The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command, on Tuesday, disclosed that it has impounded two trucks belonging to the Dangote group of companies loaded with 303 smuggled bags of rice in different parts of the state.

The command added that it intercepted 3154 bags of foreign rice, declaring that it generated over N13 million from import duty and auction sales of petroleum products within August.

The Controller of NCS in the state, Bamidele Makinde, said this at a press briefing held in the Idi-Iroko area of the State.

Makinde said the cumulative Duty Paid Value for all the seizures made in August amounted to over N300 million.

He said, “A truck with Lagos State registration no. EKY 971 YE belonging to the Dangote group of companies, loaded with 75 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each concealed with 900 bags of Dangote cement, was intercepted along Ibeshe, Yewa-North Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Sunday, 21st August, 2022.

“Another Dangote truck with Kano State registration no. BCG 531 XA loaded with 288 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice 50 kg each concealed with some bags of Dangote cement along Lafenwa, Abeokuta axis, Ogun State, on 23rd August 2022.

Other items seized include 15 pieces of used compressor; 8 units of used vehicle; 6 units of the motorcycle; 153 bails and 68 sacks of used cloths; 79 sacks of used shoes; 111 cartons and 220 pieces of foreign wines; 301 pieces of used tyres, 18,100 litres of PMS; 310 cartons of frozen poultry products and 16 sacks of used bags.”

He said, “During the period of review, the Command generated a total sum of thirteen million eight hundred and Forty-eight thousand, three hundred and seventy naira, zero kobos (N13,848,370.00) only from imported duty and auction sales of petroleum products intercepted during anti-smuggling operations.

“The cumulative duty paid value for all the seizures amounted to N311,924,551.92.”

Makinde implored Nigerians to cooperate with the NCS by dealing in legal businesses.

The Comptroller assured legitimate business communities of the command’s maximum operation for trade facilitation.