The Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Lagos has revealed that it intercepted eight trailer loads of parboiled rice from smugglers apprehended by its agents.
In a weekend briefing at Lagos, the Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said that 14 suspects were arrested during the seizure and investigation is still ongoing.
According to Bashir Adeniyi, “Beyond the parboiled rice seizures, our operations yielded significant results in September, with the interception of various goods.”
Among the seized goods were; 1× 20-foot container of unprocessed wood; 106 cartons of foreign frozen poultry, 55 pieces of used fridges, 110 pieces of used compressors, 148 cartons of foreign soap, 121 cartons of expired hair oil and 25 units of vehicles, 35,100 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS) 1,100 liters of diesel 1×40-foot container carrying 360 bales of used clothes; 1×40-foot container containing 150 cartons of ladies’ handbags, 50 bales of nickers, and other falsely declared items.
The acting CGC said that the operation was born out of the need to uphold the Federal Government’s economic policies and commitment to achieving development within the agric sector
He called on importers and licensed agents to be sincere and diligent in their dealings with the customs and port authority and they should adhere to existing port regulations to avoid losing their cargo and investment.
“Importers and licensed agents are urged to make sincere declarations, adhere to existing import and export guidelines, and avoid the risk of losing their investments. “Compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic choice that ensures the smooth and efficient flow of goods across our borders,” Adeniyi asserted.
