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By Steve Agbota
Operatives of the Federal Operation Unit Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday, said it intercepted export bound three trucks laden with 880 bags of white beans, 584 bags of onions and 18 bags of dry pepper on the verge of being smuggled to Benin Republic.
The food items were seized at Ajilete/Idiroko road in Ogun State, less than 24 hours after the Seme border command of the NCS intercepted 400 sacks of grains illegally exported to the same neighbouring country, Benin Republic.
During a press briefing in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller, FOU, Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu, said instead of seizing the food items, the Unit ensured the trucks were re-directed to the Nigerian markets where they were sold to Nigerians by the owners while nine suspects were arrested in connection with various seizures.
The Customs boss also raised the alarm over smugglers new defined means of smuggling foreign parboiled rice in petroleum jerry cans.
According to him, the act is not only illegal but also exposes the potential consumers to the risk of eating contaminated grains that have ingested poisonous properties possibly from premium motor spirit (PMS), diesel, or other petroleum products.
“Due to violation of various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and the federal government import and export prohibition guidelines, we vigorously and relentlessly prosecuted our anti-smuggling campaign, which resulted in a total number of 93 seizures, arrest of mine suspects made to prevent smuggling and protect our national economy,” Ejibunu said.
