Customs uncover smugglers’ creek, seizes 11,264 rice bags

The Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja says it has uncovered a creek at Igbesan, Ogun State, where smugglers use to hide smuggled goods.

The spokesman for the unit, Uche Ejesieme, said men from the unit seized 11,264 bags of illegally imported 50-kilogramme rice.

He added that the consignment was valued N56.3m with a Payable Duty of N39.4m and a Duty Paid Value of N95.7m.

Also, the unit’s Controller, Turaki Adamu, explained that the seizure was effected by “Lagos Roving Team Operations” headed by Adamu Mohammed, an Assistant Controller of Customs.

Adamu said the customs men acted on intelligence report which indicated that smugglers were planning to use the creeks to bring in large quantities of rice from the Benin Republic.

He said, “After our initial investigation, we fashioned out operational modalities to ensure that there was no leakage of information to the smugglers. The team laid an ambush for the consignment for almost three days before they were intercepted.

“The area is reputed as both volatile and inaccessible and several attempts by our men to raid the place in the past have been met with stiff opposition from hostile smugglers.

“The FOU had to roll out its Armoured Personnel Carrier for the operation in view of the opposition from the smugglers. We subsequently called for reinforcement from the neighbouring commands of Ogun and Seme, as well as the Army, Navy and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The combined team overpowered the smugglers.

“Even though we also faced the challenge of unmotorable terrain, we were able to move the seized goods and we destroyed the instrumentality of crime, including wooden boats, storage facilities and out board engines. This is aimed at frustrating their future attempts.”

The customs boss said the argument of the Baale of the community, that smuggling was the area’s only means of survival, as the proceeds were used for developing their community, was unacceptable.

He noted that some smuggling flashpoints had been identified along the creeks and other illegal routes.

He said the unit would commence intensive and aggressive patrol activities in the areas to nip the activities of smugglers in the bud.