The
Ogun State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted
a petrol tanker and about 25 other vehicles loaded with smuggled bags
of rice.
The tanker (Photo: Punch)
A petrol tanker and about 25 other vehicles reportedly loaded with
smuggled bags of rice, have been intercepted by the gallant operatives
of the Ogun State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, on Monday
November 15, 2016, along the Idiroko border area, on its way to Lagos.
Speaking to correspondents at the command’s Idiroko border office,
the new Area Controller, Hassan Gangua, explained that the MAN diesel
petrol tanker with number plate, FST 51 XE, was specially built for
smuggling. “This interception was made 24 hours after my arrival by our gallant officers,” he added.
According to Punch Metro, the area controller disclosed further
that 25 cars with built-in compartments, loaded with bags of smuggled
rice, were also intercepted in the Idiroko area, adding that a trailer
was also intercepted at the Lagos-Sagamu interchange with about 500 bags
of rice on Monday November 21, 2016.
He said, “The goods, which were neatly packed, were being taken to the Eastern part of the country to be sold in the open market.”
Gangua said three suspects, Anthony Nwapa, Osunkwo Chukwu and
Hyginus Igbokwe, were arrested in connection with the seizure, while
preliminary investigation was ongoing.
He also said in the last one week, four vehicles loaded with 4,000
cartons of frozen poultry products and 19 motorcycles used for smuggling
of rice were intercepted. He said the poultry products had been
destroyed, adding that as Yuletide approached, smuggling had been on the
increase.
He, however, stated that the command had step up its operations, “in order to combat the menace of the smugglers and bring their activities down to barest minimum.”
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