Customs Intercepts N140m Worth of Smuggled Rice In Imo

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operation Unit, Zone ‘C’ has impounded over 88 exotic vehicles estimated at N140 million after bursting a smuggling ring.

The command said the vehicles were impounded in the South-east and South-south geo-political zone of the country by the operatives of the zone.

20 persons were arrested in connection with the smuggled vehicles, with additional six smugglers apprehended in connection with other goods.

Its Area Controller, Mr Victor Dimka, said it was gathered, deployed over 20 officers in mufti in Benin/Agbor axis and other communities to track the smuggled vehicles.

The vehicles included Lexus Jeep, Sienna Bus, Toyota and Nissan cars among others.

Smuggling is said to be on the increase in the areas, following the collection of 35 per cent duty on used vehicles.

Customs officers in the zone, it was learn t, are making life difficult for smugglers by also impounding 576 bags of rice.

Others items seized by the command, findings revealed , included 458 two stroke engine generators and 2,060 gallons of vegetable oil and 18 used tyres with DPV of over N150million

Contacted, Dimka said that 89 exotic vehicles were impounded and a trailer   load of 1,620 cartons of vegetable oil cleverly concealed with empty jerry cans to deceives is officers and men were seized and the driver arrested on the Benin – Ore road and detained.

Giving the breakdown of the seizures made, Dimka said his officers on the Owerri axis also seized a container load of 112 bales of textiles material, 40 feet container comprising garments and assorted types of furniture.

The Controller added that four trucks containing 1,932 (50kg) bags of rice was impounded on the Benin axis; while eight bags of Indian hemp weighed 399.5kg was found in a luxury bus at Udi LGA on the Onitsha/Enugu, which was neatly concealed with passengers luggage. The driver and the items, he said, are in Customs custody.