Ogun Customs Impounds 23 Vehicles, 391 Bags of Rice, Others During Yuletide

Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun State Command, has said it has intercepted and seized smuggled items with duty paid value of N62,693,000.00 during the yuletide season.

Briefing journalists yesterday at the command’s headquarters of the service, Quarry Road, Abeokuta, the state Comptroller, Sani Maidugu, said the seized items included 14 fairly used exotic vehicles, popularly known as “Tokunbo,” nine vehicles used to conceal and convey contrabands, 391 bags (50kg) of rice, shoes, bags and electronics.

According to Maidugu, the seizure was made within the Abeokuta axis of the state command.
He said the new methods devised by the smugglers is to conceal and convey banned items, noting that the intelligence network of the command had countered such moves by the smugglers.

He disclosed that a bus disguised as a vehicle to transport fresh vegetable and a truck conveying empty drums and used to conceal several bags of rice, were intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, within the state.
Maidugu, however, disclosed that the driver of the truck had been arrested by the customs operatives and will be charged to court after investigations.

“Officers and men of the Ogun State Customs Command have fulfilled the promise of making more seizures during yuletide period. This can be attested to, with the quantum of seizures of various description of prohibited items displayed before you.

“Dubious methods of concealment of rice were also unveiled by gallant officers and men of Ogun command. And we will not relent to ensure duties meant for the federal government’s coffers are paid,” Maidugu stated.