ABUJA: The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Area Command, has impounded about 1,035 bags of smuggled rice from smugglers. The bags of rice were intercepted penultimate Sunday at Idogo Community near Ilaro in Yewa South Local Government Area of the state, while 10 vehicles used in smuggling them were also impounded.
About seven truck-loads of unprocessed wood, allegedly being exported illegally out of the country were also seized penultimate Friday from smugglers from Republic of Benin. The unprocessed wood was seized from smugglers at Ijoun community in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State while being taken to Republic of Benin, according to the new Area Controller of Ogun State Area Command, Mr. Multafu Waindo.
The vehicles used by the smugglers have Republic of Benin’s number plates and have been moved to the Abeokuta headquarters of the Ogun State Customs Command. Controller Waindo said the seizures marked the beginning of tough times for smugglers in the state.
He said: “On February 5, 2016, our operatives arrested six trailers with number plates: AU3121RB, BA9064RB, AY7203RB, AV4002RB, BA7930RB and a truck with number plate AX3245RB, transporting unprocessed wood.
“Unprocessed woods are prohibited from being exported out of the country. Only processed ones are allowed to be exported out of the country, and they must have been cut to small sizes. Five persons who were foreign nationals were arrested in connection with the act. They did not understand English; they only spoke French. They are currently being detained while preliminary investigations are ongoing.
“In another development, on February 7, 2016, while acting on a tip-off, our operatives stormed the Idoko area and arrested 10 vehicles loaded with 1,035 bags of smuggled rice. The vehicles and the bags of smuggled rice were immediately taken to a government warehouse.
“Despite the fact that some of the fleeing smugglers removed the batteries, tyres and steering wheels from the vehicles, we towed them down to Abeokuta.”
The Ogun customs boss disclosed that the command had made about 55 seizures including 25 fairly-used vehicles, 1,161 cartons of frozen poultry products, second-hand tyres, cannabis sativa, and other items. He said: “The command has held meetings with stakeholders on the need to shun smuggling. Some have turned a new leaf while others turned deaf ears. I want to tell smugglers to follow the due process by paying the necessary duties on their goods. We are determined more than ever before to stop all illegalities in Ogun State.”
