By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Customs Area Controller for the Oyo/Osun command of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) Comptroller Christopher Oga Odibu on Tuesday disclosed that the command has seized smuggled items with the duty value of N92.7million .
Mr Odibu stated this while briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan on the latest seizure made by the command in its quest to rid the command of smuggling .
According to the Customs Area Controller, the seized smuggled items comprised of 4,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N48.5million, 9 trucks and two used cars with DPV at N34.7million, 150 pieces of used Tyres with DVP at N1.29million , 51 bales of second hand clothes with DPV of N7.04million and 50 (25litre kegs) of vegetable oil with DPV of N1.05million.
Comptroller Odibu pointed out that the seizures were at different locations within the command’s area of coverage especially along Opara/Bodo Musa axis of Iwajowa Local Government area of Oyo state and that ” one suspect was arrested alongside with the seized goods”.
Breaking down the seizures recently recorded by the command, Mr Odibu listed them as “one used yellow colour Leyland DAF Truck marked MUS 461 carrying 450 bags of (50kg) imported rice”, One used gold colour DAF Truck with registration number EKY 597XV carrying 450 bags of (50kg) smuggled rice, One used white colour DAF Truck with registration number EGB 530XA carrying 450bags of (50kg) smuggled rice, One used blue colour DAF Truck with registration number AGL 944XC carrying 330 bags of (50kg) smuggled rice, One used white colour DAF 65 Truck with registration number AKD 977 XQ carrying 400bags of (50kg) smuggled rice.
The Oyo/Osun Customs Area Controller gave others as ” One used green colour DAF 75 Truck with registration number SMK 226 XR carrying 450 bags of (50kg) smuggled rice, One used yellow colour DAF 65 Trucj with registration number MUS 961XQ carrying (50kg) smuggled rice. One used while colour DAF 75 Truck with registration number LND 805XG carrying 450 bags of (50kg) smuggled rice. One used yellow DAF 75 Truck with registration number EPE 894 XG carrying 450 bags of (50kg) smuggled rice. One used red colour Volvo wagon with registration number DG 32 MUS carrying 50 kegs of Vegetable oil. One used gold yellow colour Mazda carrying 30 bags of (50kg) smuggled rice . 51 bales of secondhand clothes , 150 pieces of used Tyres and 90 (50kg) bags of parboiled rice”.
“It is worrisome to note that some Nigerians remain unrepentant even as they continue to lose. The Federal government efforts in transforming the agriculture sector, especially in the area of rice production should be encouraged while importation of rice should be discouraged by all. ” he said.
Mr Odibu added “let me sound a note of warning and advise to all unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in smuggling of used cars, foreign rice and other related contraband goods to desist from it and look for other legitimate means of business”.
” I want to affirm that no matter the means of conveyance or concealment of prohibited goods. I assure you that the officers of this command ate on constant surveillance and monitoring and we will discover them”.
