The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted smuggled goods valued at N468,706,602 within 17 days in March.
Comptroller Joseph Adelaja, who leads the command, disclosed this at a press briefing this Monday at the command headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Adelaja highlighted the seizure of foreign parboiled rice, cannabis sativa, used tyres, second-hand clothes, shoes, and compressors, attributing the success to intelligence sharing among Customs units and collaboration with stakeholders.
Among the intercepted items were:
2,030 (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice, concealed in three heavy-duty trucks (DPV: N223.3 million)
660kg of cannabis sativa (DPV: N21.78 million)
28 bales of used clothes (DPV: N20.16 million)
167 used tyres (DPV: N16.03 million)
28 used refrigerator compressors (DPV: N1.76 million)
8 used air conditioner compressors (DPV: N252,000)
1 bale of used shoes (DPV: N420,000)
167 (25-litre) kegs of PMS (DPV: N4.59 million)
3 trucks (DPV: N180.4 million)
“These illegal activities undermine national economic development and pose serious threats to the safety of citizens,” Adelaja said, urging transport companies to install tracking systems to prevent their vehicles from being used for smuggling.
He warned smugglers to desist from activities harmful to the economy, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to enforcing compliance. Adelaja also thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his support, and appreciated Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, for providing an enabling environment for operations.
The Comptroller commended his officers and sister security agencies for their dedication and cooperation in combating smuggling.