Posted by In September, the Nigeria Customs Service’s Federal Operations Unit (Zone A, Ikeja) reportedly seized N1.76 billion in illegally imported rice and other goods from eight trailer loads.
Adewale Adeniyi, the acting Comptroller General of Customs, made this announcement at a news conference on Friday in Lagos.
According to Adeniyi, the seizures occurred at random times and places along the border corridors of the Southwest states.
Through thorough documentary checks and the issuance of demand notices on those who paid less than the appropriate customs duty, the unit was able to generate N72.8 million in revenue, he said.
He claims that 7,029 50-kilogram bags of imported parboiled rice were seized after being intercepted in a series of operations carried out by his force.
Both deterring would-be traders from becoming involved in smuggling and inflicting financial damages on actual smugglers are goals of this operation.
The head of Customs said that the department had achieved considerable achievements in September thanks to the interception of a wide variety of items, not just parboiled rice.
He claimed that among these items were 1,100 liters of diesel, 35,100 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and 360 bales of worn clothing packed inside a 40-foot container.
Others were one 40-foot container holding 150 cartons of ladies’ handbags, 50 bales of underwear, one 20-foot container of untreated wood and other falsely claimed commodities.
He went on to say that there were also 25 units of automobiles, 148 units of foreign soap, 121 units of expired hair oil, 55 units of old refrigerators, and 110 units of used compressors in the shipment.
He added that inquiries into several of the confiscations are still continuing.
He also said that 14 people had been arrested for various offenses like smuggling, evasion of duty, false declarations, and undervaluing goods.
Adeniji cautioned against the potential loss of investment by urging importers and licensed agents to make honest statements and abide by existing import and export norms.
Saying that “compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic choice that ensures the smooth and efficient flow of goods across our borders,”