The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun area Command on Tuesday said it has arrested one person in connection with the smuggling of some prohibited items into the country along Opara/Bodo Musa axis of Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo state.
Customs Area Comtproller in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Comptroller Christopher Odibu while addressing journalists at a press conference in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, however, noted that the command in the last one month has seized contraband goods, ranging from trucks, cars, bags of rice, used tyres, second hand clothes and vegetable oil with the duty paid valued worth ninety two million, seven hundred and seventy eight thousand and forty eight naira twenty two kobo (N 92,778, 048.22).
Odibu while speaking noted that the above seizures were made at different locations within the command area of coverage.
He said the seized items include 9 trucks and two cars with duty paid value of N34, 782,792.29, 4,000 bags of rice with duty paid value of N48,596,321.00, 150 pieces of used tyres with duty paid value of N1, 298,34563, 51 bales of second hand clothes with duty paid value of N7,043,205.75 and 50 kegs of vegetable oil with duty paid value of N1,057,375.00.
He said “In keeping to this mandate of the service, the command has re-strategised its operations by utilising the intelligence reports gathered by its officers and men which have led to the recent seizures, which includes:
“One used yellow color leayland DAF Truck carrying 450 bags of imported rice, One used gold color DAF carrying 450 bags of smuggled rice, One used white color DAF Truck carrying 450 bags of smuggled rice, One used blue color DAF Truck carrying 330 bags of smuggled rice, One used white color DAF 65 Truck carrying 400 bags of smuggled rice, One use green color DAF 75 Truck carrying 450 bags of smuggled rice and One used yellow color DAF 65 carrying 450 bags of smuggled rice.
Others according to him include, “One used white color DAF 75 Truck carrying 450 bags of smuggled rice, One used yellow color DAF Truck carrying 450 bags of smuggled rice, One used red color Volvo Wagon carrying 50 kegs of vegetable oil, One used gold-yellow color Mazda carrying 30 bags of smuggled rice, 51 bales of second hand clothes, 150 pieces of used tyres and ninety bags of parboiled rice.”
Odibu while speaking further declared that, “It is worrisome to note that some Nigerians remain unrepentant even as they continue to lose. The federal government efforts in transforming the agricultural sector, especially in the area of rice production should be encouraged while importation of rice should be discouraged by all.
“Let me sound a note of warning and advise to all unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in smuggling is used cars, foreign rice and other contraband goods to desist from it and look for other legitimate means of businesses.
“I want to affirm that no matter the means of conveyance or concealment of prohibited goods, I assure you that the officers of this command are on constant surveillance and monitoring and we will discover them.
“Finally, let me appeal to you our respected gentlemen of the press that we need to partner and work together, especially in the area of enlightening our local communities on the dire consequences of smuggling activities on the Nation’s economy.”
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