The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Space Command, has intercepted 5 vans loaded with 2,800 luggage of smuggled overseas parboiled rice, Hashish, and different gadgets with a Responsibility Paid Worth (DPV) of N1,268,794,474.
The Customs Space Controller, Dr. Benedict Oramalugo, disclosed this on Thursday throughout a press briefing on the Joint Border Put up advanced in Seme.
Dr. Oramalugo stated the interceptions befell between July 1 and 19, following credible intelligence gathered by operatives alongside the Lagos-Abidjan hall.
He defined that 5 vans loaded with smuggled items had been stopped, every carrying 50kg luggage of overseas parboiled rice and second-hand clothes.
“In complete, 2,800 luggage of rice and 250 bales of used clothes had been recovered from the intercepted autos,” he said.
Oramalugo stated the Responsibility Paid Worth (DPV) of the seized rice and autos was estimated at N919,500,626.
He added that between Could 14 and June 30, the command additionally recorded different main interceptions, together with extra luggage of overseas rice, which introduced the full amount of seized rice to 4,119 luggage inside the said interval.
Throughout the identical timeframe, the command recovered varied different contraband gadgets akin to hashish sativa, sugar, flour, tomato ketchup, a ship with an engine, in addition to a number of bales of second-hand clothes and used footwear.
In accordance with him, the full DPV for all seizures carried out throughout this era stood at N1,268,794,474.
He attributed the success of the seizures to the vigilance and dedication of officers and males of the Seme Command, supported by the Nigerian navy.
Oramalugo reiterated the Federal Authorities’s ban on rice imports by land borders, emphasizing that the coverage is geared toward supporting native farmers and decreasing the nation’s dependence on imported rice.
He famous that Nigeria stays Africa’s main rice producer, with over 8 million metric tonnes yearly surpassing Egypt and Tanzania.
Regardless of this achievement, he stated, native rice mills proceed to endure from low patronage, which hampers their potential to function at full capability.
He pressured that the import ban is essential to sustaining the agricultural sector and boosting native manufacturing.
Nevertheless, he lamented that some people nonetheless resort to smuggling, thereby undermining Nigeria’s financial progress.
Oramalugo warned that the Seme Command wouldn’t tolerate any type of smuggling or unlawful commerce, emphasizing that the latest seizures display their agency resolve to implement fiscal insurance policies with out compromise.
He added that the seized hashish can be handed over to the suitable authorities for investigation and additional motion.
He disclosed that the command generated N1,593,676,123.26 in income throughout Could and June 2025, attributing this efficiency to robust anti-leakage measures.
In accordance with him, each legit kobo owed to the federal government was collected with the best degree of integrity.
Oramalugo additionally thanked the Comptroller-Basic of Customs and his administration workforce for his or her continued assist.
He famous that the latest allocation of 12 patrol autos has considerably enhanced border surveillance and operational effectivity, including that the affect of this funding is obvious within the seizures now being introduced to the general public.
