Customs seizes 6,900 bags of smuggled rice in Ogun

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, reported that during April and May, its agents seized 11, or 6,924 bags, of illegally imported parboiled rice from outside.

Two brand-new Toyota Hiace buses with the chassis numbers JTHN9CPOP6018610 and JTGHN9CP7P6019835 were also confiscated by the command as they were being smuggled into Nigeria via a bush route between Sawonjo and Imasayi communities in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

On May 15, 2023, three used luxury buses from abroad that had been smuggled into the nation through the Ohumbe border were also captured.

This was revealed on Tuesday by Bamidele Makinde, the controller of the Ogun 1 Area Command, who was speaking to reporters at the NCS office in Abeokuta.

According to Makinde, the command generated N34,174,105 during the reviewed period, which is an increase of 69% over the N10,615,618 generated during the same period in 2022.

He claimed that throughout that time, the command worked with complying traders to consider how their company operations may be further improved "through our trade facilitation mechanism."

He said recommendations and suggestions made during the engagements would be implemented, hoping that “this will lead to an increase in export trade, which would, in turn, contribute to increasing our revenue and national GDP.”

Other things seized, according to the customs chief, included kegs of gasoline, used tires, marijuana, and other illegal items.

He estimated that N335,855,989 was the Duty Payable Value (DPV) of all seizures made throughout the two months.

He appreciated sister security agencies’ cooperation, stating that “we have been able to achieve a great deal with their cooperation and teamwork.”

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