54 containers laden filled with
contrabands including expired rice and banned drugs, has been seized by the
Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Command.
The Comptroller-General Col.
Hameed Ibrahim Ali, who briefed reporters at the Customs Examination Ground of
the Tin Can Island Port said the seized items include 33 containers of expired
rice, one container of rice concealed with spare parts, 11 containers of
unregistered pharmaceutical products, two containers of used tyres, one
container of used clothing and four containers of refined vegetable oil in
retail packs.
Value of the seizure has been
placed at N2.713 billion and it was reportedly bagged in 50kg sacks which had
the labels of Nigerian companies. Some include Master Rice bags with the label
of Masters Energy Commodities Trading Limited, with its address as 31A, Remi
Fani Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. The ‘Jasmine Rice’ consignment had the
inscription “packed for Yumfei International Trading Company Limited",
with address as 103, Ebittu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja.
Customs Comptroller-General said
there are plans to arrest those listed on the different consignments. He added
that closure of land borders meant all goods for the Nigerian market are being
routed through the seaports.
“One significant thing about this
seizure is that all the rice has expired or about to expire. Also remarkable is
the seizure of variants and unregistered performance enhancing drugs among the
pharmaceutical.
“No doubt, those who imported
these dangerous items do not wish us well. Imagine if they had succeeded in
getting the expired rice in, re-bagged and changed the expiration date for
Nigerians to consume.
“Realising that there may be possible
backslash to the closure of the land borders, I directed all seaports and
airports to beef up their surveillance and intercept any illicit and prohibited
consignment for which attempt for their smuggling may be made through these
entry points. This decision was made considering that those consignments may
have been paid for and the importers will devise means to ensure they are
delivered to their warehouses in Nigeria,” Ali said.
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