Customs Makes N7.5m Rice Seizure …Arrests One Suspect

In a single operation ,the
Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made a seizure of rice, boat with outboard engine and vehicles for conveyance valued at N7.5m.
Making good his promise to adhere strictly to the Comptroller-General of  Customs zero tolerance for smuggling, Customs Area Controller(CAC) of Seme , Comptroller Willy Egbudin, achieved this feat in the fight against rice smuggling through the nation’s borders.
“With a thought that officers and men of the Command of Nigeria Customs Service have relaxed their increased surveillance that came with the Yuletide period, an attempt by some smugglers to unlawfully bring in rice through the waters was foiled during the weekend”, he said.
According to him, with the necessary intelligence and available logistics, a patrol team led by Superintendent of Customs, Aina Olufemi, patiently tracked the movement of the smugglers to be sure where their boat will berth and discharge.
“Having fully discharged the smuggled rice at Isalu waterside in Badagry, our operatives swooped on them while loading and tactfully achieved the arrest of one suspect who is helping us with investigation that will lead to the arrest of the baron and others involved in the economic vice,” the comptroller said.
Meanwhile, the outboard engine of the boat and three vehicles (one volkswagen, one Iveco and one Ford buses)   being loaded with rice, bales of secondhand clothes and other smuggled goods have been securely transferred to the government warehouse.
This recent move by smugglers to test our vigilance has not only been foiled as it also sends a strong signal that our round-the-clock surveillance remains far from being relaxed, he posited.
The Area Controller also insists that all vehicular and foot patrols in the hinterland remains sustained with increaased intelligence to monitor and defy smugglers’ antics along the borderline.
“Our eagle eye officers are leaving no stone unturned including regularly checking teh jetties and waterfronts as in the recent case”, Egbudin said.