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Adetutu Sobowale
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command said it has intercepted 3,154 bags of foreign rice, including two Dangote trucks loaded with smuggled rice and others in the State.
The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Bamidele Makinde said this at a briefing on Tuesday, explaining that the impounded Dangote trucks were loaded with 303 bags of contraband rice.
Makinde said, “A truck with Lagos State registration no. EKY 971 YE belonging to the Dangote group of companies, loaded with 75 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each concealed with 900 bags of Dangote cement was intercepted along Ibese road, Yewa North Local government Area of Ogun state, in the early hours of Sunday, 21st 2022.
“Another Dangote truck with Kano State registration no. BcH531 XA loaded with 228 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each concealed with some bags of Dangote
“Other items seized include 15 pieces of used compressor; 8 units of used vehicle; 6 units of the motorcycle; 153 bails and 68 sacks of used cloth; 79 sacks of used shoes; 111 cartons and 220 pieces of foreign wines; 301 pieces of used tyres, 18,100 liters of PMS; 310 cartons of frozen poultry products and 16 sacks of used bags.”
He further stated that the command generated the sum of over N13 million from import duty and auction sales of petroleum products with N300 million Duty Paid Value.
He said, “During the period of review, the Command generated a total sum of thirteen million eight hundred and Forty-eight thousand, three hundred and seventy naira, zero kobo (N13,848,370.00) only from imported duty and auction sales of petroleum products intercepted during anti-smuggling operations.
“The cumulative duty paid value (DPV) for all the seizures amounted to N311,924,551.92.”
The Comptroller assured legitimate business communities of the command’s maximum operation for trade facilitation.
He however , warned residents to steer clear of smuggling activities.
He said, “Let me reassure the legitimate business communities if our maximum cooperation for trade facilitation. You are free to contact us for any trade-related information, enquiry as well as complaints.
“May I also use this avenue to warn criminal elements in the state to steer clear of smuggling activities? The Command remained resolute to its mandate of suppression of smuggling and other illicit activities inimical to the economic growth of our great country, Nigeria.
“We shall foil any nefarious activities, make an arrest, and prosecute anyone caught in illicit acts”
Makinde, however, urged Nigerians to cooperate with the command to curb the menace of smuggling.
“We implore well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to cooperate with us by providing useful information against economic sabotage for the sake of our dear nation’s development.”
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