YELUTIDE: Customs seizes 5,459 bags of imported rice worth N872 million
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized nine trailers of parboiled imported rice worth N872 million.
The NCS also announced that federal operations forces intercepted 5,459 bags of foreign rice weighing 50 kg in one month.
Hussein Ejibunu, the unit's inspector general, told journalists that smuggling of foreign rice has increased due to the Christmas season.
Ejibunu also said the seizure reflects the determination of police officers to carry out their duties, protect the country's economy and prevent the importation of prohibited and harmful products.
He said: “The strategic deployment of police officers in an intelligence-based anti-smuggling operation led to the arrest of a Toyota Highlander and the clever concealment of bags of suspected foreign parboiled rice in Iju Ojuore, Ogun State.
“These seizures reflect our commitment to the performance of our functions aimed at protecting the country's economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products into the domestic market.
“Other items seized during November included 5,459 50kg bags of foreign rice and 18,100 liters of premium motor spirits; 376 bales of used clothing; 1,926 cartons of frozen chicken products; 337 used compressors; x 40-foot container was found to contain 3,838 used tires, 13 used cars (tokunbo), and 396 cartons of frozen fish.”
Source: dailypost.ng