EndSARS: Customs Intercepts N619,348,335 Items, Including Kegs Of Petrol-See Details

Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a total of 624 bags of foreign rice of 50kg each and 214 kegs of petrol of 25kg each.

News Rain Nigeria reports that the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, 19 November 2020 disclosed the interception of a total smuggled goods with Duty Paid Value of N27,033,240.

The seized contraband goods, which according to the Area Comptroller of the Command, Mrs. Uche Ngozi while briefing journalists over the development at the Command Headquarters in Ibadan, are 624 bags of 50kg foreign rice, 25kg kegs of premium motor spirit (petrol).

EndSARS: Customs Intercepts N619,348,335 Items, Including Kegs Of Petrol-See Details

Mrs. Ngozi noted that the seizures were intercepted just after the suspension of the ENDSARS protests, stressing that the officers of the command are back at their border posts to continue with their anti-smuggling activities.

She recalled that the nationwide EndSARS protest which was hijacked by hoodlums across the nation forced the security operatives to concentrate on the protection of their facilities, noting that the smugglers leveraged on this opening to perpetuate their nefarious activities along the borders.

She maintained that since the EndSARs protest,  we have made a series of interceptions along various unapproved routes, stressing that the process has helped the command in the interception of  624 bags of 50kg each of foreign rice with a Duty Paid Value of N27,033,240.

Mrs. Ngozi however declared that the Command has been able to make a seizure of 214 kegs of 25 liters each of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) which will be an auction and proceed remitted accordingly, stressing further that the command has made a seizure of 11,481 bags of foreign rice, 91 gallons of vegetable oil, 1,694 used tryes, 39 cars among others between February till date.

She said the DPV of the seized items within this time frame stood at N619,348,335.

“We have further sharpened our intelligence and increased synergy with other sister agencies and took the bull by the horn to nip these smugglers in the board with maximum intelligence gathering.

The controller commended the officers and men of the command for their steadfastness and zeal to carry out anti-smuggling activities within their area of responsibility.

She also commended other security agencies in the state and community leaders for their cooperation and synergy during the EndSARS protest.

Ngozi educated the public by saying that the actions against Government policy on border closure were tantamount to risk against National security.