Nigerian Customs officials seize 29, 905 bags of foreign rice from smugglers

The Ogun State Command, Nigeria Customs Service, on Tuesday announced that it had intercepted 29,905 bags of foreign rice from smugglers.

It said the seizures were made at the Idiroko border and the adjoining communities in the last six months.

The Controller of the Ogun State Area Command, Michael Agbara, disclosed this on Tuesday at its Idiroko border office while speaking with journalists on the activities of the command.

He said the huge recovery on bags of rice was the biggest the command made since he took over the mantle of leadership.

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Comptroller Agbara said, “The seizure of over 29, 905 bags of rice in the first half year of 2019 is indeed a landmark among numerous successes recorded as compared to 15, 976 bags of rice seized during the corresponding period of the year 2018.

“The aforementioned was achieved due to strategic enforcement measures put in place in line with the Federal Government Policy targeted at boosting Agricultural Development within the country.

“However, the above activities were entangled with series of clashes between Officers of the Command and some daredevil smugglers/accomplices leading to loss of lives and properties. The Command will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public on social, security, health and economic implication of smuggling, while on the other hand, the statutory functions of enforcing compliance with strict adherence to the law will be rigorously sustained.”

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