The Niger State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized trucks conveying 1,940 bags of imported rice worth N32.9 million which is assumed to have been smuggled into the country.
The Area Controller of the command, Abba-Kassin Yusuf, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.
He said the trucks were apprehended at various locations within the jurisdiction of the Command. He said, along the Mokwa axis of the command, 520 bags of rice with duty paid value of N8,840.00, concealed with 50 bags of sugar worth N697,000 were seized.
In Minna-Lambata-Suleja Road, he said 700 bags of rice were seized and put the duty paid value of the contraband at N11.9m.
The command also seized a truck with plate number KRD 425 XM loaded with 720 bags of foreign rice disguised to look like cement along Bida-Minna Road with duty paid value of N12,240,000.
Yusuf, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller Enforcement, Jalo Ibrahim, said the tactics put in place to free the command of illegal goods were generating a good result.
He said, “We are more determined than ever to make the command uncomfortable for the economic saboteurs, as the command will henceforth beam its search on the trucks plying Niger and Kogi area command.”
“We are keen on implementing the federal government policy of encouraging home-grown rice farmers, as it will not only create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths but will improve the nation’s economy,” he stated.
The controller gave an assurance that his men would remain committed to ending the scourge of smuggling.
“Our eagle eyes are all around Niger and Kogi commands to uncover and suppress smuggling to the barest minimum in the interest of economic prosperity and national development,” he stated.
