(Ilorin)
The Nigeria Customs Service Joint Border Drill Operations for the North-Central zone said it seized contraband goods, worth N1.2 billion and arrested 53 suspects between May and June 2020.
The Coordinator of the operations, comprising Niger,Kwara,Kogi and Benue states, Muhammed Uba-Garba, made the disclosure while addressing Journalists on the activities of the team in Ilorin.
According to him, within the period under review, the team raided two warehouses in Ilorin and discovered about 674 bags of foreign rice.
Uba-Garba also explained that last month, the patrol team intercepted two Mitsubishi canter trucks laden with 54 drums of smuggled petrol with a duty paid value of N1.9 million with two suspects in Niger state.
He further revealed that a tipper carrying sand, with 140 bags of rice concealed under the sand as well as a Keke NAPEP tricycle with smuggled rice, were also intercepted.
The coordinator said the sector had stepped up measures to combat the influx of smuggled rice and other prohibited items into the country.
He advised officers of the Service to ensure they observe NCDC guidelines on the prevention of COVID-19 in the discharge of their duties.
Uba-Garba maintained that the sector had, within the same period, recoded 225 seizures, including,17,490 bags of foreign rice,310 kegs of vegetable oil, 1-locally made pistol,944 drums of AGO and 3,676 Jerry Cans of Petroleum products of 25 litres
Others, he added,were 355 bundles of textile materials and 28 bags of foreign fertilizer,among others.
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