The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of 5,662 bags of suspected smuggled rice and 137 bales of second hand clothes both valued at N137 million. The National Coordinator, Headquarters of the NIS Strike Force Team, Abuja, Mr Abdullahi Kirawa, who made this known while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Calabar said the seizure was made within Cross River and Akwa Ibom Area Commands of the Service.
He explained that the Strike force team, which operated under `ZONE C,’ covered the South-South and South-East states of Nigeria.
“In the last one month, men of the strike force team have seized 5,662 suspected smuggled foreign bags of rice and 137 bales of second hand clothes within Calabar and Akwa Ibom Area Command.
“Out of the 5,662 bags of rice, 2,153 were handed over to the Strike Force Team by the Nigerian Navy. This shows the collaboration and synergy that exist between the NIS, Nigerian Navy, police and other sister agencies.
“It is of note that this seizure wouldn’t have been possible without the motivation of the Comptroller General of Custom, Rtd. Col. Hameed Ali, who has given us all that is required to do the job. The Comptroller General has given us all that is needed to ensure that not only is smuggling reduced or suppressed to the barest minimum, but to ensure that the menace of these smugglers is not perpetrated in these areas,” he said.
He urged the general public to avail the service with useful and credible information that would help the team to make more arrests, assuring that the apprehended suspects will soon be charged to court.
