Customs intercepts drugs, smuggled rice worth N85m in Lagos, Ogun

The Federal Operations Unit, (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday said it has in the last three weeks intercepted contraband drugs, smuggled rice worth N85 million.

It also intercepted 4,208 bags of smuggled foreign rice worth N55.3 million that were concealed in truck carrying tubers of cassava, animal feed and bottle of alcoholic products.

Muhammed Aliyu, Customs Area Controller of the unit said the contraband goods were seized while the smugglers were trying to move the goods from Oyo state to Lagos.

According to him, due to the joint security operation at the land borders in the country, Operation Joint Swift, smugglers now find it difficult to smuggle rice into the country, hence, the effort to move the already smuggled ones to Lagos where there is huge market.

“We discovered that this rice were stored in villages from where they are being brought out little by little. Now, we also see smugglers concealing contraband with poisonous substances such as soap, animal feeds and even alcoholic drinks,” he said.

He said the unit arrested a truck containing soap but further investigation showed the soap was used for concealing rice. “The truck contained 210 bags of smuggled rice but the soap was just a cover even as he added that the impounded drugs without NAFDAC numbers were intercepted in the last one week.

A breakdown show that drugs such as 3,888 sachets of bisoprolol Fumarate; 300 bottles of Lactulose; 600 sachets of Atorastattin; 2,000 bottles of mandanol nasal drop and 10,800 sachets of Furossamide were brought smuggled in.

Others include 279 Dihydrocodeine; 744 Kenalog 40mg injection; 300 cartons of Lansoptazol; 560 sachets clopidogre; 1,764 contiflo and 320 sachets meloxicam were also intercepted.

He however warned corporate organisations to install trackers on their vehicles to forestall unscrupulous drivers from using branded vehicles for rice smuggling.

When asked whether the seized items came in through the land borders despite the joint security operation, the Customs boss said smuggling activities has reduced drastically.

AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE