The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its war against smugglers with the seizure of over 25,000 bags of rice, it was learnt.
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, it was gathered, has over 11,000 bags of the seized rice in its store; while its Tin-Can Island counterpart, Apapa, impounded about 14,000 bags of illegally imported rice from China.
The market value of the item, it was gathered, is between N450 million and N500 million based on the market price of between N18,000 and N20,000 per 50kg bag.
The seizure, it was gathered, is in line with the resolve of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali to checkmate smugglers at the ports and border stations.
Investigation around the Lagos ports and borders last week revealed that the Customs has moved against illegal importation of rice, illicit drugs, vegetable oil, textile, used clothes, confectionery, juices, used bags and other prohibited items.
Customs Public Relations Officer at the FOU, Ikeja, Mr Jerry Attah, said the CGC and the Area Controller Umar Mohammed Dahiru, had set in motion a system that makes the fight against smuggling more serious. He said the surveillance became possible because of the vehicles given to them.
“The unit is working very hard to change its modus operandi to suit the exigencies of the moment and to ensure that it remains on top of the smugglers antics in all ramifications, particularly in terms of enhanced intelligence gathering network,” he said.
Attah reiterated the unit’s commitment to ensuring smuggling and other anti-economic activities are stopped.