The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command has allegedly impounded two Dangote trucks for smuggling 303 bags of parboiled foreign rice.
The Controller of the command, Bamidele Makinde, confirmed this at a press conference he addressed at his office in Idiroko border, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to Makinde, one of the trucks was intercepted in the early hours of Tuesday with 228 bags of smuggled rice, while the other had 75 bags of rice hidden inside bags of cement.
In his statement, he asserted that: “Another Dangote truck with Kano State registration no. BCH 531 XA loaded with 228 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50 kg each concealed with some bags of Dangote cement along Lafenwa, Abeokuta axis, Ogun State in the early hours of today, 23rd August 2022,“ Makinde said, confirming that the trucks and their drivers are in custody.
The Controller disclosed that the command generated a total sum of N13,848,370 from import duty and auction sales of petroleum products (PMS) intercepted during anti-smuggling operations in the month of July 2022.
He explained that the Command during its intensive anti-smuggling operations recorded a seizure of 3,154 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, saying the same was equivalent to five trailer loads.
Makinde, warned criminal elements in the state to steer clear of smuggling activities, threatening that the command is resolute to suppress smuggling among other illicit activities inimical to the economic growth of the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2015 pledge to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production. He implemented a total ban on rice imports across the whole country, to favour locally produced rice which he described as fresher and more nutritious.
In January 2018, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) confirmed that the CBN stopped issuing Form ‘M’ to importers for importation of rice. Form ‘M’ is a mandatory statutory document to be completed by all importers for importation of goods into Nigeria.
