ABUJA: The Seme Area Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday, seized 12 trucks carrying smuggled rice following a tip-off on unusual movements around the Ikoga area of Badagry in Lagos. In a statement, the command’s Public Relation Officer, Mr. Taupyen Selchang said that the seizure was the biggest in the history of the command, adding that about 2,131 bags (50kg each) were confiscated from smugglers.
The Duty Paid Value of the seizure, according to Taupyen, was put at N23,973,750. He disclosed that the imported rice was smuggled through Ere-Creeks, which border Lagos and Ogun states. According to the command’s spokesman, no casualty was recorded during the operation as information regarding the seizure was well managed amongst the officers involved in the operation.
Meanwhile, the Customs Area Comptroller, Mr. Victor Dimka, re-iterated that the change in leadership in Seme border had re-invigorated the enforcement unit and intensified the enforcement of government fiscal policies to meet the current dynamics of smuggling through the creeks. The Comptroller also said that investigation had commenced, adding that the perpetrators of this act will face the consequences of their action.
