Customs intercepts N1.8bn goods; 8 trailer loads of rice in a day, arrests 14 suspects

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone 'A' Ikeja, Lagos, has intercepted approximately eight trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice on October 6, 2023.

Disclosing this during a press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, the Acting Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, remarked

that agriculture, being the cornerstone of Nigeria's economy, underscores the federal government's commitment to achieving self-sustaining growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians.

The comptroller general said that in alignment with this commitment and the spirit of patriotism, Customs dedicated officers executed a series of operations resulting in the interception and seizure of 7,029 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice.

He stated that the seizures took place at various times and locations within the border corridors of the South Western states.

According to CGC, the objective of the seizure was twofold: to discourage potential traders from engaging in smuggling activities and to inflict financial losses on active smugglers.

He said that beyond the parboiled rice seizures, Customs operations yielded significant results in September, with the interception of various goods which include

35,100 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS),

1,100 liters of diesel, 1 40-foot container carrying 360 bales of used clothes

Others are 1 40-foot container containing 150 cartons of ladies' handbags, 50 bales of nickers, and other falsely declared items, 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, 25 units of vehicles (Tokunbo).

Adeniyi disclosed that investigations into some of these seizures are ongoing even as fourteen suspects have been apprehended in connection with various offenses, including violating import/export guidelines, concealment, undervaluation, wrong classification, smuggling, and contravening policy directives.

The CGC announced that the cumulative duty paid value of the intercepted goods amounts to an impressive One Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-five Million, Eighty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety-eight Naira (1,755,080,898).

Aside this, he added that the Unit generated Seventy-two Million, Eight Hundred and Seven Thousand, Twenty-five Naira, Eleven Kobo (N72,807,025.11) in revenue through meticulous documentary checks and the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate Customs duty.

The Customs boss urged importers and licensed agents to make sincere declarations, adhere to existing import and export guidelines, and avoid the risk of losing their investments.

He reminded shippers and their agents that compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic choice that ensures the smooth and efficient flow of goods across Nigerian borders.