Nigeria Customs intercepts 506 bags of imported rice
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, said its command in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara zone had intercepted 506 bags of foreign rice concealed in bags of beans smuggled into the country.
The command’s Controller, Nasir Ahmad, made this known to journalists on Wednesday in Sokoto, and said that the seized consignment had payable duty value of N12.5 million.
Mr. Ahmad said that the items were intercepted on Friday by officers of the command on patrol along Sokoto-Illela road.
He said that the command had competent intelligent officers, investigating specialised activities.
The controller explained that smugglers deployed different tactics in perpetrating their illegal businesses and reassured the public of the command’s readiness to confront smuggling and enforce government regulations.
He called on people residing in border communities to assist Customs authorities with useful information to combat smuggling of goods into the country.
“The present case is different as smugglers packaged two bags of rice in bigger beans bag disguising that they were conveying beans in the truck,” Ahmad said.
According to him, smugglers are using various structures, including residential buildings, to store smuggled items in peace-meal before uploading to a truck.
Mr. Ahmad said smuggling was crippling the nation’s economy as it deprived it of revenue, crippled industrial growth, endangered population and employment.
He commended Comptroller-General and officers of the Service for supporting anti-smuggling and revenue generation drive of the present administration.
More Stories
FORMER BENUE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, IJIGAH, LAID TO REST
The remains of former Ogbadibo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ijigah Okoh, have been buried in his hometown, Mission Ekere,...
LAGOS CREATES 3,941 NEW PARKING SLOTS TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION
The Lagos State Government has announced the creation of 3,941 new parking slots across key locations as part of its...
CRIME: FBI ARRESTS 22 NIGERIANS OVER ALLEGED SEXTORTION SCAMS
In a sweeping international operation targeting a surge in online sexual extortion scams, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has...
LAGOS MINISTRY EMPOWERS 2,680 BUSINESS OWNERS WITH CASH GRANTS
2,680 Business owners have benefitted from the NG-CARES (Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus) under the Lagos State Ministry...
Y2025 WORLD MALARIA DAY: LAGOS MARCHES TOWARDS MALARIA ELIMINATION
… Governor Mandates Health Ministry to Drive Pre-Elimination Strategy … Commissioner Declares Lagos at 1.3% Malaria Prevalence … SFH, Goodknight,...
RELOCATION OF KWASU FACULTY OF AGRIC ON HOLD
The Management of Kwara State University (KWASU) has suspended the planned relocation of its Faculty of Agriculture to the Ilesha-Baruba...