Oyo/Osun area command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) raked in N6.67 billion in the first six months of 2014. During the period under review, a total of 247 seizures were made with a duty paid value of N337.21 million.
Richard Oteri, comptroller, Oyo/Osun area command, who disclosed this, said a total of seven thousand and eighty nine (7,089) 50kg, twenty three (23) 25kg and twenty (20) 10kg bags of rice with a total duty paid value of N85.338 were among the seizures made during the half year.
Oteri, however, said the latest seizures were recorded on Monday, July 7, 2014, in which two DAF 10-tyres trucks, with registration numbers AKD 15 XB (red head/red body) and JJJ 998 XL (white head/green body) loaded with a total of 750 50kg bags of rice along Igbeti axis of the state.
According to him, one of our patrol teams led by DSC Alajogun, J.A. on information patrol intercepted the two trucks carrying 500 50kg and 250 50kg bags of rice, respectively, while the duty paid value (DPV) for the 750 bags of 50kg rice is estimated at N4.170 million.
The customs boss noted that the bags of rice were all concealed in veterinary chemicals/products.
“The seizure shows our resolve to make the Oyo/Osun states a no hiding place for unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in this illicit business of smuggling,” he said, saying the importation of rice through the border remained prohibited and all those who wished to do so should use the nation’s sea ports.
He, however, said the comptroller general of customs, Abudullahi Dikko, was passionately committed to reducing smuggling of rice into the country and “we in Oyo/Osun area command reiterate our commitment in doing so within our area of operation.”
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