Customs Zone ‘B’ impounds 11 vehicles loaded with smuggled rice

Customs seizes 38 vehicles, other goods worth N169.7m

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘B’ says it intercepted 11 vehicles carrying bags of foreign rice along Kaduna, Zaria and Kano axis through the help of patriotic Nigerians.

The Assistant Controller and Commander Strike Force of the Command, Ekanem Wills, made this known to journalists in Kaduna on Monday.

He said, “We were able to confiscate eight Golf wagons and three J5 vehicles, all carrying rice.

“The smugglers have now devised a new means of using smaller tinted vehicles to convey the smuggled goods.”

Wills further stated that each of the eight golf wagons carried between 40 to 45 bags of rice.

He said noted that two suspects were apprehended and investigation is ongoing to ascertain the culprits behind the recurring smuggling of rice which the Federal Government has placed a ban on.

Wills said the Federal Government has provided the command with new vehicles for patrol to enhance the capacity of the personnel in the efforts to end smuggling.

The official assured that the command was determined to seize all goods being smuggled into the country through its area of operation and warned smugglers to find new legitimate means of livelihood.