The Federal Operations Unit (Zone `A’) of the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted and seized different contraband valued at N751.1 billion in February.
Controller in charge of the zone, Mr Hussein Ejibunu told newsmen in Lagos on Friday that 3,779 (50kg) bags of foreign rice equivalent to seven truckloads were seized from various states in the Southwest.
He put the street value of the rice at N365 million.
He said the zone was committed to fighting smuggling, adding that the commitment had contributed to a drastic reduction in rice and fuel smuggling in its area of operation.
“As usual, rice was top on the list of our February 2024 seizures in terms of volume and value.
“Other items seized within the month included one locally-made gun and six pieces of empty cartridges on Abeokuta Road.
“We also intercepted 731 parcels of suspected Indian hemp weighing 482kg; one 40ft container of 286 cartons of new rubber slippers, seven units of used motorcycles; 28,000 litres of petrol and 2,420 pieces of used tyres.
“Worthy of note is the interception of three Benin Republic-bound trucks laden with 880 bags of white beans, 584 bags of onions and 18 bags of dry pepper on Ajilete-Idiroko Road in Ogun.
“Instead of seizing the food items, we ensured that the trucks were re-directed to Nigerian markets where they were sold to Nigerians by the owners,’’ he said.
Ejibunu also told newsmen that personnel of the zone prevented the smuggling of 11 exotic used vehicles worth more than N200 million into the country.
He said smugglers of the vehicles met stiff resistance against their duty evasion and defiant behaviour.
He said the zone collected N78.16 billion as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of Demand Notices on Customs Duties that were discovered to be underpaid.
He said that preparatory to Easter celebrations, the unit had strengthened its intelligence-led anti-smuggling operations strategies to forestall smuggling and duty evasion.
Ejibunu charged smugglers to desist from the unlawful business detrimental to their lives and to the Nigerian economy.
