The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col Hameed Ali (retd), yesterday in Lagos announced the seizure of 34 containers of rice smuggled through the Tin Can Island port.
Shipping Position Daily learnt that the rice, some of which had expired since 2018, were imported from China and Thailand.
To corroborate this, while inspecting one of the containers, the Comptroller General found some empty bags with new dates, apparently, to be used to re-bag the expired rice.
The Customs boss also added that, one of the containers loaded with rice was concealed with spare parts.
Rice importation through the sea and land borders is prohibited.
According to the Customs CG, the Central Bank of Nigeria has not issued Form ‘M’ since 2015 for the importation of rice through the seaport, therefore any foreign rice in the country is smuggled.
Ali also attributed the seizures to the recent closure of the land borders which according to him, had prompted importers of banned items to re-route them through the seaports.
He said, “Specifically we are aware that the partial closure of the land borders has resulted in the diversion of some cargoes back to our seaports”
“While we welcome this development which no doubt will boost revenue, improve our trade facts and figures and sustain our diversification efforts, we have also recorded a number of seizures of unwholesome products which otherwise would have been smuggled through the borders”.
According to him, “realising that there may be a possible backlash to the closure of the land borders, I directed all seaports and airports to beef up surveillance and intercept any illicit and prohibited consignment for which attempt for their smuggling may be made through these entry points.
“This decision was made considering that those consignments may have been paid for and the importers will devise entry means to ensure they are delivered to their warehouses in Nigeria.”
“NCS, Nigeria Immigration Service, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Nigerian Police Force and operatives of the Intelligence Agencies, are effectively ensuring the ongoing partial closure of the nation’s land borders.
“Since the inception of the exercise, remarkable seizures have been recorded across the various areas of our operations.
The Customs boss said he had directed a full investigation to bring all those connected with the illegal importation to justice.
Giving details of other seizures at Tin Can port, apart from rice, he said in addition to the 34 containers of rice, the service also intercepted 11 containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products, two containers of used tyres, one container of used clothing and four containers of refined vegetable oil in retail packs.
Ali said that the total number of containers was 54, comprising 15 by 40-feet and 39 by 20-feet.
He said that all the seizures were in line with the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act.
Ali put the Duty Paid Value of the seized goods at N2.7bn.
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