By Damilare Adeleye
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine trailers of parboiled imported rice worth over N872 million.
The NCS explained that its Federal Operations Unit intercepted 5,459 bags of 50kg osf foreign bags of rice in one month.
Mr. Hussaine Ejibunu, comptroller of the unit, told newsmen that there has been an increase in the smuggling of foreign rice due to the Yuletide season.
Ejibunu further said that the seizures reflect the commitment of officers to discharge their duties, protect the nation’s economy, and prevent the importation of prohibited and harmful products.
He said: “The strategic deployment of officers with intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations led to the arrest of a Toyota Highlander and the ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Iju-Ojuore, Ogun State.
“These seizures reflect our commitment to the discharge of our functions, aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products from entering our domestic markets.
“Other goods that were seized within November include 5,459 bags of 50kg of foreign bags of rice and 18,100 litres of premium motor spirit. 376 bales of used clothes 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products 337 pieces of used compressors and 3 x 40-foot containers were found to contain 3,838 pieces of used tyres. 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo) and 396 cartons of frozen fish.”