The Nigeria Customs Service has seized 11,358 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, which is equivalent to 38 trailers, between July and September, 2022.

The seizures occurred along Idiroko borders, Ogun State.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Friday, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the Ogun 1 Area Command, Bamidele Makinde, said that the command also recorded seizures of 1,550 pieces of used tyres and 180 bales of used clothing in a warehouse situated along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, within the period under review.

He said the command generated the sum of N38m as revenue only from import duties and auction sales of petroleum products.

“The Command recorded a seizure of 11,358 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, which is about 38 Trailer loads. The period under review, the command. Three trucks loaded with 513 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice were intercepted during our anti-smuggling operations along Obada axis and Ibese/Itori road, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, respectively.

“In addition to the above, the Command recorded seizures of 1550 pieces of used tyres and 180 bales of used clothing in a warehouse situated along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.”

He added that the value of the contrabands stood at N341bn.

According to him, “227 seizures, comprising, 16 units of vehicles used as means of conveyance, 2 units of used vehicles, 2,706 kegs (67,650 Litres) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 8 units of Motorcycle (means of conveyance), 80 kegs of vegetable oil (25 litres each), 201 bales and 76 sacks of Second-hand clothing, 79 Sack of Used Shoes, 20 wraps of Cannabis Sativa, 89 bales of Textile (wrapper),17 Cartons of imported Tomato Paste (smuggled), 3 Cartons of imported Spaghetti Pasta (smuggled), 80 Packs of Vegetable oil (4.73 Litres each with a total Duty Paid Value of N341bn.”

Makinde said that the command was able to achieve these feats because of effective intelligence.

“Let me use this opportunity to commend the section of the business community which has been complying with the Federal Government fiscal policies. We assure them of our continued support by way of trade facilitation. As for diehard and would-be smugglers, we warn them to steer clear of smuggling activities as the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on any arrested perpetrators of such acts.”

He urged parents and guardian do warn their wards against smuggling.

“I appeal to parents and guardians to help us in this regard by prevailing on their wards to desist from smuggling activities and confrontation with, or attack on, security agencies”