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Customs impound Dangote truck carrying 600 smuggled rice

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Customs impound Dangote truck carrying 600 smuggled rice



At least three persons including a truck driver were arrested on Wednesday after the Nigeria Customs Service confiscated an articulated vehicle smuggling 600 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice.

Investigation revealed that the truck which belonged to Dangote Cement Company was conveying the consignment to the eastern part of the country when it was seized.

Customs Area Controller, Peter Kolo, confirmed the development at NCS monthly press briefing.

The PUNCH reported that the truck was intercepted in the Ijoun border area of Ogun State.

Kolo added that investigation was ongoing to unmask the persons behind the massive smuggling activity.

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He said that the NCS, in March, intercepted a truck belonging to the Nigerian Bottling Company used to smuggle contraband goods into the country.

On the seizure of contraband goods made by the command in the month of April, the controller announced that 7,000 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice or equivalent of 12 trailer loads were seized.

Kolo further noted that 500 book sizes of cannabis, popularly known as Indian hemp, along with the vehicles used as means of conveyance were also seized.

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According to him, smuggling of foreign rice is frustrating the Federal Government’s rice and agricultural policies.

“Just a few days ago, another articulated truck bearing the inscription and logo of Dangote Cement Company was intercepted in the Ijoun border area and was loaded with over 600 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice and heading for the eastern part of the country.

“Three persons were arrested, including the driver of the vehicle, and investigation is going to unravel those behind the massive smuggling activity.”

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The controller said various quantities of poultry products, cannabis sativa, vehicles and other means of conveyance, used clothes and shoes, used tyres, sugar, tomato in retail form, body creams and petroleum products for export were also seized during the period under review.

Kolo added, “The cumulative Duty Paid Value for the seizures in April amounted to N189,923,293.

“The Federal Government’s directive on border closure is still subsisting. A sum of N225,000 was generated from the auction of seized petroleum products and scrap metals in the month of April.”



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