Kebbi, Ogun Customs seize petrol, foreign rice, others.

The Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service said it intercepted 4,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 525 litres of diesel and 37 kegs of vegetable oil among others in July.

A statement made available to our correspondent on Monday quoted the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Ben Oramalugo, as disclosing this while addressing journalists at the command headquarters.

Oramalugo also said the command recorded a total of 28 seizures within the period under review.

He said, “The seizures included 138 packs of tramadol 225mg each, 81 tablet size of cannabis sativa, used Toyota Camry 2007 model as means of conveyance, 46 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, and 40 bags of rice of 25 kg each, 88 bales of second hands clothing, 4,200 litres of PMS and 525 litres of diesel, 37 kegs of vegetable oil. The duty paid value of the seized items was N51m.”

He explained that the coup in the Niger Republic and subsequent border closure had affected the command’s revenue generation drive of the command.

Oramalugo said despite the border closure, the command raked in N99m within the period under review which represents 113 per cent of its monthly revenue target.

He said notable among the seizures was the cannabis sativa and hard drugs worth N22m which had been handed over to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Command of the NCS also said it intercepted 203 bags of imported rice, five vehicles and 1,245 rounds of live ammunition worth N17m abandoned in a bush path in the Yewa-North Local Government Area of the state.

The Area Comptroller, Ogun State Command, Bamidele Makinde, disclosed this to newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Monday.

He said, “Around 0024 hours on Friday, August 12, 2023, the Roving B Team of the command intercepted five old vehicles, (Toyota Camry with Chassis No. 4TIBG22KIWU312145, Toyota Camry with Chassis No. 4TIXK1263NU108237 and three Mazda 626 cars with Chassis Nos. JM2GD14H201568566, JMZGF14F201173029 and JMZGF14P20141862 respectively), loaded with 203 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each abandoned in a bush path at Tobolo Junction, close to an exit point to the Republic of Benin, and near Ijoun, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.”

Bamidele noted that while the command was examining the seized vehicles, it found out that live ammunition were concealed in 20 bags of rice.

“During the examination of the seized vehicles and the item, about 1,245 rounds of 70mm (2¾“) live ammunition of Lion, Trust, Supreme and Redstar branded cartridges were found to have been ingeniously concealed in 20 bags of the intercepted foreign rice,” he said.

Bamidele said the items had been deposited for safekeeping, while an investigation has commenced to identify the smugglers.

“The Duty Paid Value of the seized ammunition and rice is N17,638,145.00 The items have been deposited for safekeeping, pending further necessary action. The investigation is ongoing to unravel the cartel responsible for the attempted smuggling of the items for arrest and prosecution,” he concluded.