The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, of the Nigeria Customs Service has given an insight into how11,264 bags of smuggled rice were intercepted by its men last week at the creeks of Igbesa in Ogun state.
In its first official statement to the media since the unprecedented seizure was recorded, it added that the rice had a duty paid value of N95.744Million.
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, of the Nigeria Customs Service has given an insight into how11,264 bags of smuggled rice were intercepted by its men last week at the creeks of Igbesa in Ogun state.
In its first official statement to the media since the unprecedented seizure was recorded, it added that the rice had a duty paid value of N95.744Million.
In a statement sent to Shipping Position Daily in Lagos by the command Public Relations Officer; Uche Ejesieme, it was revealed that the imported rice were intercepted by customs anti smuggling operatives with assistance of other security agencies.
The statement quoted the command’s acting Controller; Turaki Usman Adamu as saying that the seizure was effected by Lagos Roving Team Operations headed by Assistant Comptroller Adamu Abubakar Mohammed.
The statement added that, prior to the interception; there was an intelligence report which hinted that smugglers were planning to use the creeks to bring in large quantity of rice from Benin Republic.
According to the statement, the team laid ambush for the consignment for almost three days before they struck.
“It is pertinent to point out that the area is reputed as both volatile and inaccessible particularly for Customs and several attempts to raid the place in the past were met with stiff opposition from the hostile smugglers.
“On arrival at the scene of crime, we started evacuation, even though we faced challenge of un-motorable terrain and on completion of evacuation, we destroyed the instrumentality of crime which include, the wooden boats, their storage facilities and out board engines , aimed at frustrating future attempts” he stated.
“The Lagos Roving Team met stiff opposition from the smugglers, hence the need for reinforcement from the neighbouring Commands of Ogun and Seme, as well as the Military, NSCDC, Navy and others who provided Security for the evacuation of the consignment. ‘’, he said.
It added that seizure was aided by a combination of other customs units which include; the Ogun state and Seme commands with additional support from the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for the evacuation of the consignment.
“It is instructive to point out that the FOU ‘A’ had to roll out its Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) for these operations in view of the volatile nature of the terrain” “These tanks were rolled out with the express permission of the CGC, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde CFR who clearly understands the nature of such assignment”.
“We must place on record that they have attacked Customs Patrol Teams that attempted in the past to stop their nefarious activities and it is therefore not surprising to see the renewed vigour and dexterity of the FOU ‘A’ operations particularly the Lagos Roving Team led by AC Adamu Abubakar Mohammed”.
“The rampaging smugglers were contained by our operatives who brought the experiences from their various trainings to bear, even though the smugglers engaged our operatives in a shootout, the combined team of our operatives over powered them with their superior fire power. “
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