Rice Smuggled Into The Country Not Fit For Consumption- CG Customs

Mr Hameed Ali, the Comptroller-General of Customs, has said 99 per cent of rice smuggled through the land borders into the country are not fit for human consumption.He said this at a joint news conference on illegal rice importation to Nigeria yesterday in Abuja.

He said samples of some of the rice seizures made over a period were referred to NAFDAC to ascertain their condition. He said the test reports certified that smuggled rice through the borders was unfit for human consumption and so Nigerians should desist from it.

“Importation of rice into the country is not banned but restricted on the point of entry to seaports only. We remain firm in our resolve to enforce the restriction of rice imports only to our seaports.We have re-organised our anti-smuggling patrols to provide additional capability and bite,” Mr. Ali said while speaking on how to stop them from coming into the country.

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See Goods Worth Over N250 Million Seized by Customs in Lagos (Photos)

The Nigeria Customs Service has seized goods worth millions of naira in Lagos State after intensive effort to apprehend smugglers.

Contraband goods seized by the Nigeria Customs Service

 

A new report by the Nigeria Customs Service has revealed that the agency seized goods worth over N250 million from July-August 2016. 

 

The statement by the Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah reads: 

 

"The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja Lagos within the period of July-August 2016 intensified its anti-smuggling operations by intercepting various contrabands with a duty paid value (DPV) of 186,911,500.00

 

Similarly, the Unit through its interventions recovered 63,555,123.25 from vehicles and other goods due to under-payment, undervalue and false declaration as the case maybe making a cumulative of N250,466,623.25 between July –August 2016.

Within July-August 2016, about 225 different seizures were recorded comprising foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, fairly used vehicles popularly known as tokunbo, and various general merchandise.

The breakdowns are as follows:

 

S/N GENERAL GOODS QUANTITY DPV

 

1 Foreign Parboiled Rice 4,474 (50kg) 29,133,000.00

 

2 Frozen Poultry Products 7,676 cartons 41,450,400.00

 

3 Assorted vehicles 11 units 8,775,000.00

 

4 General merchandise including vegetable oil, new and used textiles, shoes, bags, used tyres , used fridges, furniture sets etc 107,553,100.00

Sub-Total 186,911,500.00

 

Revenue intervention 63,555,123.25

 

Total 250,466,623.25"

 

 

While commending the relentless efforts of his Officers and Men of the Unit, the Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Comptroller Umar Mohammed Dahiru Said that even though the Nation is experiencing economic downturn, smuggling still persists and pledges the commitment of his Unit to thwart any antics that might be deployed by smugglers. The Comptroller calls on all patriotic Nigerians to help the Nigeria Customs Service in the fight against smuggling by providing necessary intelligence report that will assist our operations for a better return on investment for legitimate traders

He said “we will continue to reflect and review our operational modalities towards sustaining the statutory mandate of anti-smuggling operations so as to keep the flag flying and warned the dare devil smugglers to repent from their nefarious acts or face the wrath of the law as the Unit has what it takes to always track them down”. He added that 23 suspects were also apprehended and after thorough investigation they will be charged to court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others."

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