The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kano/Jigawa Command said it has impounded contraband items worth N45 million.
Briefing journalists at the Kano headquarters of the command, the Area Comptroller, Nasir Ahmad, said the contraband including 1,500 bags of foreign rice was intercepted at Miltara road, Gumel boarder in Jigawa, Bello road, Katsina Road, Babura, Achilafiya, Zaria road and Maigatari border in Jigawa state.
According to him, 20 vehicles worth N7.2 million were used as a means of transporting the impounded goods.
He disclosed that smugglers have devised a new method of smuggling foreign rice into the country alongside empty jerrycans.
”You can see another method that is being used by smugglers to smuggle in rice into the country by using empty jerry cans to conceal the rice.
“If you see a bus conveying empty jerry cans of vegetable oil, one would hardly suspect anything but alas it is another way of transporting smuggled foreign rice.
“We have resolved that any vehicle coming out of the zone must be properly inspected,” Ahmad said.
He also said that the command seized 260 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oils valued at N3.7 million as well as 25 bags of foreign sugar valued at N412,51.
He further stated that 20 used vehicles seized at various border locations are awaiting the owners to come forward for clearance.
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