Adewale Adeniyi, acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has disclosed that the service intercepted 4, 252 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 299 cartons of codeine syrup and 5,600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit among others at different locations in Lagos and Ogun States.
Addressing newsmen at the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja on Wednesday, Adeniyi said that the seizures were made within two weeks of August.
He said the hard drugs were intercepted at Ijebu Ode junction.
“Last week, officers of the Federal Operating Unit Zone A, acting on credible intelligence, stopped a DAF truck close to Ijebu-Ode Junction. An examination of the truck revealed the concealment of 299 cartons of codeine syrup along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,” he said.
He, however, lamented that despite the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal on the economy, smugglers still attempt to smuggle petrol across the border.
He said, “The following seizures of both items were recorded: a total of 4,252 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50 kg each at Dangote/Imashayi Ogun State, Saki Axis Oyo State, Owode/Ado Odo in Ogun State, Idiroko/Ohumbe Ogun State, Okoko Mile 2 area in Lagos State and Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
“Similarly, 5,600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit were intercepted and seized when smugglers attempted to takeout these strategic resources through the Oja-Odan area of Ogun State.”
The NCS boss added that the smuggling of rice compromises the nation’s revenue and sabotages its food security.
“Other items seized in the last two weeks include 291 bales of second-hand clothing comprising 57 sacks and four jumbo sacks of used shoes, 486 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products, 190 pieces of rugs, five units of vehicles and 170 pieces of used tyres,” he added.
He said the codeine syrup, which is reportedly being abused by mostly young persons, in the long-term, results in anxiety, depression, memory loss and damage to the liver, kidneys and brain.
He added that the seizure of used tyres would help mitigate auto crashes caused by smuggled used tyres.
