Customs Intercepts Smuggled Rice in Ogun

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 11 trucks load of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country from republic of Benin.

The acting Customs Area Controllers of the unit, deputy comptroller, Hussein Ejibunu, disclosed that the bags of rice are 6,228 bags of 50 kg.

He said: “prominent among the seizures made for contravening various sections of the extant Customs laws are: 6,228 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 11 trailer loads); 35,325 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 279 Cartons of foreign poultry products; 105 parcels (50kg) of cannabis sativa; 2×40 ft containers said to contain 883 bales of used clothes and eight units of foreign used vehicles.

“While the federal government played its role by imposing trade restrictions in an effort to protect our local companies and farmers from unhealthy competition with foreign firms, the onus lies on its citizens to complement government’s efforts with that of compliance with the Customs’ extant regulations and government’s fiscal policies.

“Apart from the effect of smuggled foreign frozen poultry products on the economy, it also affects the health of its consumers. Some of these frozen poultry products are preserved under questionable conditions. This assertion is embedded in some previous laboratory reports by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).” he said.