The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said, recently, that it has seized 1,237 bags of expired foreign parboiled rice in Lagos.
According to our source, this was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the unit, Comptroller Muhammed Uba Garba at the command warehouse in Ikeja.
The contraband which has a value of N9million was allegedly imported from neighboring Benin Republic.
“These are 50kg of 1,237 bags of foreign Rice with duty of over Nl8million and some of these rice are expired.
“The ban of FG on rice and import vehicles are still in force and that is why we have to enforce the FG policy on banned on importation of rice and vehicles. We will continue to enforce the policies because there is policy on local rice production we have to encourage local rice millers that will encourage the farmers for local production to improve and majority of Nigerians will get employed.
“Some of these rice are expired and these are used clothing and they are under prohibition and as policy implementers, we must ensure this goods are not allowed to come in.”
However, the United said it intercepted another 27 assorted vehicles that were smuggled into the country through the land borders.
He said, “Barely three weeks after intensifying our operational modalities, the field operatives fortified with credible information trailed and evacuated 27 assorted vehicles smuggled into the country through unapproved routes.
“The smuggled vehicles includes, Toyota Prado jeep, Hilux, Highlander, Mercedes-Benz among others ranging from 2007 to 2013 models. These 27 assorted vehicles alone have a Duty Paid Value of N228million.”
The unit also said it intercepted rice, frozen poultry products, Indian hemps, medicaments, used tyres and various general merchandise valued at N303million.
“In the same vein, the unit through our interventions recovered N252million from duty payments and demand notices on general goods that tried to outsmart our officers at seaports, airports and land borders through wrong classification, transfer of value and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the federal government.
“A cumulative sum of N784million were recorded within the week under review.”
Comptroller Garba also reiterated Federal Government ban on importation of rice and vehicles- Used and New- through the land borders.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal government policies banning the importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders are still in force and the Nigeria Customs Service remains tenacious in its determination to enforce these policies,” he warned sternly. (Source: LEADERSHIP)
SALLAH: CUSTOMS SEIZES BAGS OF EXPIRED RICE IN LAGOS
