The Tincan Island Customs Command has uncovered thirty-three containers of expired smuggled foreign parboiled rice in Lagos.
Another twenty-one containers were also found to contain hundreds of cartons of tramadol, performance enhancement drugs and other unwholesome products.
TVC News Correspondent, Ifunanya Eze reports that two months into Nigeria’s land border closure and already smugglers are redirecting their attention to the seaports.
The arrival of the comptroller General of Customs to physically inspect this particular seizure, suggests that this development was expected in view of the border closure. He described the imported containers of expired rice and other prohibited items as dangerous.
On the issue of the continued closure of the land borders, he insists the status quo would remain until neighbouring countries comply with ECOWAS extant laws on regional trade.
The 54 seized containers with a duty paid value of more than 2.7 billion naira, were in contravention of the 46 and 161 sections of the Customs and Excise management act.
