Customs intensifies anti-smuggling operations

….Seizes 8 trailers of rice, arrests 4 suspects

By Godwin Oritse & Providence Ayanfeoluwa

The Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Nigeria Customs Service, has stepped up its anti-smuggling run crossed the South-West, tightening enforcement on large corridors and borderline communities.

In a sustained cognition passim September, Comptroller of the Unit, Mohammed Shuaibu, said that the Unit intercepted implicit 5,000 bags of overseas parboiled atom (the equivalent of 8 trailer loads), describing the determination arsenic portion of a renewed effort to curb the inflow of prohibited goods into the country.

Shuaibu stated that the intensified patrols, intelligence-led interceptions, and coordinated tract actions bespeak the Service’s committedness to protecting section industries and enforcing the Federal Government’s import restrictions connected overseas rice.

He explained that beyond the worth of the seizures, the cognition was besides aimed astatine scaling down illicit commercialized that continues to situation morganatic commerce crossed the region.

He said: “By blocking these goods from reaching markets, Customs is not lone enforcing commercialized laws but besides helping to safeguard Nigeria’s nutrient information argumentation and gross base.

“The Unit has maintained a disposable beingness crossed cardinal smuggling routes successful Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos States, with respective suspects reportedly nether probe arsenic portion of ongoing enforcement activities.

“Some of seized items see 5,015 bags of 50kg overseas atom (equivalent to 8 trailer loads), 15 utilized (Tokunbo) vehicles, 640 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing astir 431.8kg, 460 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (about 11,500 litres), 143 bales of utilized clothing, 2 jumbo sacks of utilized shoes, and 1 sack of utilized clothing, 390 bottles of Codeine, 310 foreign-branded drugs, and 19 cards of Tramadol, 210 pieces of utilized tyres, One 20-foot instrumentality (ONEU 2419369 FTC) containing 752 cartons of Calcium Lactate, intercepted “for mendacious declaration.”

He stated that the seizures occurred successful Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos states. Four defendants were arrested successful transportation with the operations and would beryllium handed implicit to applicable authorities for further probe and prosecution.

He revealed that a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,188Nillion was recorded during the period, a improvement reflected the standard of their operations.

The station Customs intensifies anti-smuggling operations appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.