Area Controller, Seme Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said 800 bags of rice hidden under a truck loaded with pineapples had been seized.
Egbudin told newsmen yesterday that the truck, with Benin Republic registration number AY 1791 RB, was loaded with pineapples while 800 bags were concealed under them.
He said the truck was intercepted at Aradagun/Mowo, near Badagry, Lagos State at midnight on Tuesday.
“These seizures were made due to intelligence gathering we were able to get with the help of our officers. Our men had monitored the truck right from the loading point and allowed it to enter Nigeria. It was intercepted at Aradagun/Mowo near Badagry where the bags of rice were hidden under pineapples,” he said.
The comptroller said that the driver of the truck confessed that few days before his arrest, he tried a similar operation but was not successful.
“He confessed that he loaded a locally constructed vehicle with about 40 bags of rice and covered it with pineapples to experiment to see if he would catch the security agencies napping. The car and goods were impounded but he was able to escape,” he said.
He added that the driver was undergoing interrogation and would be charged to court.
The comptroller urged members of the public to continue to support the activities of the customs by giving useful information that would help to arrest smugglers.
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