Nigerian Customs Seize Large Haul of Smuggled Rice in Ogun State

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine trucks loaded with smuggled rice in Ogun State. This successful operation was carried out by customs officers under the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) zone A, who thwarted the smugglers’ attempt to bring the contraband into the country from the Republic of Benin.

According to the Comptroller of the FOU zone A, Kola Oladeji, “the smugglers, on sighting our officers, abandoned their vehicles and fled,” Oladeji explained. To convey the seized rice to the customs warehouse, the command mobilized six extra buses and 11 patrol vehicles.

Oladeji explained that the customs officers hired trucks and utilized patrol vehicles to transport the seized items, in line with their strategy of not engaging smugglers with force. “The strategy of not shooting at smugglers has been effective, and we have been able to seize a large quantity of smuggled goods without any loss of life,” Oladeji said.

He added that the customs officers were able to convey the seized rice to the customs warehouse without any incident. “We were able to convey the seized items to our warehouse using a combination of nine trucks, six buses, and 11 patrol vehicles owned by the Nigerian Customs,” Oladeji explained. The operation resulted in the confiscation of a large quantity of smuggled rice, which was transported to the customs warehouse.

The NCS’s efforts to combat smuggling have been yielding positive results, and this recent operation is a testament to their commitment to protecting the country’s economy. As Oladeji noted, “The Nigerian Customs Service will continue to work tirelessly to prevent the influx of smuggled goods and protect the country’s economy.”