The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized over 4,745 bags of 50kg foreign rice, 22 exotic cars and other prohibited items smuggled into the country illegally through the border.
Speaking during a media briefing last week, the Customs Area Comptroller of Seme Customs Command, Mohammed Uba Garba, stated that the 4,745 bags of rice, which contravened importation procedures are equivalent to about eight trucks with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N85,504,000.
On the revenue profile of the command, Garba said the Seme Customs Command has so far generated N1,475,050,377.91 in terms of seizures and revenue in the first quarter of 2019.
He said apart from 4,745 bags of 50kg foreign rice and 22 exotic cars, the command also made seizures of 27 by 25 litres of vegetable oil jerry cans; 34 by 50kg of bags of sugar; 261 by 25 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 80 cartons of poultry products; 95 by 6 yards of new textile materials; 24 cartons of Maggi; 20 pieces of household effects; 19 boxes of frozen seafoods; 68 parcels of tramadol; 10 parcels of carnabis; 220 by 6 yards of ankara textiles, and 180 sacks of scrap metal, among others.
He said the tramadol and carnabis, which were also intercepted during the same period have been successfully handed over to the NDLEA, with one of the suspects getting a two-year sentence after diligent prosecution.
He added that a total of 23 vehicles (17 fairly used and six means of conveyance) were also seized in the period under review. Among them, he said, are Toyota Highlander 2013, Hyundai Azera Limited 2016, Toyota Camry 2010, Toyota Corolla 2012 and Volvol FL7 285 Truck, among others.
Revealing smugglers’ methods of smuggling imported vehicles into the country, he stated that the command paraded a fake Youth Corps member identified as Mr. Abdul Umar, using a vehicle with Nigerian diplomatic number and some other falsified documents to cross the border.