The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command has intercepted bags of rice, bales of second hand clothings, and used tyres smuggled into the country.
Speaking to newsmen at a press conference on Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Elisha David Chikan informed that the duty paid value of all the seized items was N55, 660,245.00.
He said three persons who were said to be behind the illicit trade were also arrested in connection with the prohibited goods.
A total of one thousand, four hundred and forty bags of rice (1,440) with duty paid value of nineteen million, three hundred and eighty thousand, one hundred and sixty kobo (N19,380,160.00) were also seized .
Chikan said that fourteen vehicles, 30 bales and jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing materials and used tyres with duty paid value of N25,703,875.00, N4,062,500.00 and N6,513,710.00 respectively were seized within the command’s territory.
According to the Area Controller three people who are still under investigation were arrested in connection with the seized items.
Chikan also noted that most of the seizures were effected along Oyo/Ibadan Road while the Tokunbo vehicles were arrested within Saki axis at Aleniboro village in ATISBO Local Government Area of Oyo State.
He said that all the seizures were made within three weeks.
“Consequently, the eagle-eyed operatives of the command succeeded within the period under review in botching the illicit attempts of smugglers to ferry into the country assorted contrabands including foreign rice, bales of second hand clothings, used tyres as well as Tokunbo vehicles through the borders of this area command.
“Specifically, we have been able to successfully effect the following seizures during the period under review.
“Nissan Almera carrying 20 bags of (50kg) foreign rice, DAF 45 truck with 800 pieces of used tyres, Mazda bus with 50 bags of (50kg) foreign rice, Mazda Bus with 30 bales and Jumbo sacks of second-hand clothings, Volvo Tipper with 100 bags of (50kg) foreign rice, Mercedes Benz Truck 911 with 200 bags of foreign rice, Truck with 420 bags of foreign rice, Mazda Bus with 50 bags of foreign rice and HowoTrailer Truck with 600 bags of foreign rice”, he said.
Other items that were paraded Wednesday included Mazda Premacy -Tokunbo Car, Toyota Camry -Tokunbo Car, Volkswagen Golf -Tokunbo Car, Nissan Serena -Tokunbo Car and Mitsubishi Lancer -Tokunbo Car.