Oluyinka Onigbinde
A one-legged rice smuggler arrested by the Federal Operations Unit; Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) last week has explained how an offer of N2,500 led him into smuggling.
The smuggler, whose identity was given as Faleru Oluwasegun, said he usually collects N2,500 to bring in five bags of 50kg imported rice into Nigeria via Idiroko border into Ogun state.
The smuggler whose leg was amputated and uses crutches was seen dressed-up with different charms. He was however full of regrets, even as he narrated how he abandoned farming for smuggling.
Speaking with newsmen while being paraded by Customs officers in Ikeja last week, Oluwasegun said he used to be a farmer and hailed from Tobolo Oke-Odo area in Yewa axis of Ogun State.
According to him, after staying for five years without any income, he joined rice smuggling syndicate through a friend who gave him five bags of rice to smuggle for N2,500.
He said: “I am a farmer from Tobolo Oke-Odo area of Yewa axis in Ogun State.
“After staying for five years without any income, a friend asked me to help him cross five bags of rice for N2,500.
“The car that I am using for the rice smuggling business, I got it from a Cooperative Society. I only do rice smuggling occasionally to feed myself. I am not a bad person” he claimed.
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