Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 73 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice and other contrabands worth more than 4.8 billion Naira.
The Comptroller of the Command, Bamidele Makinde made this known at Idiroko while briefing journalists about the activities of the Command.
More than forty four thousand bags of foreign parboiled rice smuggled in the country from Benin republic have been intercepted by the anti smuggling operatives of the Nigerian customs service between the 6th of February, 2022 till December the 6th, 2022.
The Comptroller of the Command, Bamidele Makinde made this known while speaking about activities of his command within the past nine months
He explained that the 73 trailer trucks and other contrabands seized within the period worth more than N4.8 Billion.
He added that the Command was able to generate more than N58b Million as revenue, since April, 2022 when the Federal Government gave the directive for the reopening of the Idiroko border till date.
He said his command will not be deterred by attacks on his men and appealed to Stakeholders’ to continue to support the Government and security agencies in the fight against smuggling in the society.
Foreign parboiled Rice is one of the banned products listed by the Federal Government on the Import prohibition list through the Land Borders.
It is also one of the major Foreign exchange gulpers in Nigeria as it accounts for Billions of Dollars annually in Foreign exchange spending.
Smuggling through the Land borders especially from Benin Republic has been a major source of lost earnings by the Federal Government over the years.
This seizure coming at this time is also a sign that smugglers have ramped up their activities in expectation of the surge in demand because of the Christmas and New Year celebration.
