The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday said it intercepted 140 bundles of smuggled textile materials worth N11.2 million.
Speaking to newsmen, Mohammed Aliyu, Customs Area Controller, said 25,153 bags of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country were also intercepted.
According to him, the textile materials were intercepted after being smuggled from neighboring country.
He listed the other items intercepted were 49 cartons of paracetamol injection worth N39.2million; 86 sacks of used shoes worth N10.3million and 820 sacks of donkey skins worth N78million.
Other items include 347 cartons of codeine; syrup valued at N174million; 1,000 sachets of tramadol valued at N250,000 and Indian hemp worth N11million.
He also disclosed that the smuggled rice intercepted was worth over N331 million and they would be given to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs’) upon directive from the Customs headquarters.
The CAC also disclosed that the unit intercepted a truck loaded with cement and smuggled rice, thereby making the rice a poisonous food.
“This is a company vehicle that carries cement. The rice is loaded in the middle of the cement and this is what they sell to the public. The command will first take the rice to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to know whether it’s fit for consumption.
He further disclosed that 16 vehicles worth over N470million were also intercepted in the months under review.
The seized vehicles included a Toyota Land Cruiser worth N189million; Mitsubishi Pajero; Land Cruiser; Toyota Venza; Mercedes Benz; Volks Wagen, Toyota Yaris and others.
He however reiterated that the federal government ban on imported used and new vehicles and foreign parboiled rice at the land borders still remain. He also advised importers of these smuggled items to use the nation’s seaports so as to avoid their business from being ruined.
AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE
