Customs Seizes Expired Rice, Other Products with N2.713bn Duty Paid Value

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said that seized containers of rice, tramadol and unregistered pharmaceutical products, with duty paid value of N2,713,865,051.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) gave the figure at the presentation of the seized items in Lagos.

He said that the seizure represented one of the many gains of the ongoing partial closure of the nation’s land borders.

According to him, the seizure which was perfected by the TinCan Island Port Command of NCS involved 33 containers of rice, one container of rice concealed with spare parts and eleven containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products.

Ali said that the seized items also included two containers of used tyres, one container of used clothing and four containers of refined vegetable oil.

Ali said that the total number of containers was 54, comprising 15 by 40-feet and 39 by 20-feet.

He said that all the seizures were in line with the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act.

He praised NCS officers in Tincan Island Port Command for collecting revenue amounting to N286,742,551,443 since January.

“It is well known that Nigerian Customs Service is leading other security agencies in a joint operations code-named ‘Ex Swift Response’ being coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser.

“NCS, Nigeria Immigration Service, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Nigerian Police Force and operatives of the Intelligence Agencies, are effectively ensuring the ongoing partial closure of the nation’s land borders.”