Customs intercept 13 trucks of rice, others worth N1.2bn

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, intercepted 13 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice, 17 vehicles, and other items worth N1,241,777,700 in October.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on the official X handle of the Nigerian Customs Service on Wednesday, November 8.

According to the statement, the Acting Comptroller of the Unit, Hussein Ejibunu, made this known in a press briefing on Tuesday a t the Unit’s Headquarters in Lagos.

The statement partly read, “While showcasing the seizure, Ejibunu explained that the 17 vehicles were seized from smugglers who wanted to circumvent the law, stressing that the Federal Operation Unit Zone ‘A’ under his watch will make the remaining part of the year more challenging for smugglers in the interest of the country.”

“Other seizures for the month under review include 14,825 litres of premium motor spirit, 657 pieces of used tyres, 202kg of cannabis sativa, 39 bales of second-hand clothing,100 packs of tomato ketchup, four units of used motorcycles, 100 cartons of used soaps, and 730 sacks of hides & skin,” the statement added.

The acting Comptroller also disclosed that nine suspects were arrested during the anti-smuggling operations as some of them were currently undergoing prosecution in different states of the zone.

Ejibunu appealed to well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to continue to support the unit with credible information that will assist in battling economic sabotage.