Nigerians
have been advised to be vigilant of the activities of smugglers at this
yuletide season as all kinds of consumable are being smuggled into the
country.
Fake plastic rice
Speaking on Tuesday at a press briefing in Lagos, the Nigerian
Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja,
Comptroller Mohammed Haruna, revealed that the service intercepted 102 bags of plastic rice branded “Beat Tomato Rice” with no date of manufacture.
Haruna who said that the plastic rice which was intercepted the
along Ikeja area on Monday, was stored for distribution as Yuletide
gifts for the public, adding that a suspect was arrested in connection
with the seizure.
He said, “Today am happy to tell you that after our last week
press briefing, we intensified our operations in search of the alleged
“plastic rice” and with the support of some patriotic Nigerians most
especially a member of the forth estate of the realm, we were able to
locate where this rice were stored for distribution to the public as
yuletide gift.
“As I speak with you, we have successfully evacuated 102 bags
of 25 kg branded Best Tomato Rice has no NAFDAC Batch Number and
manufacture/expiring dates. Preliminary analysis on the rice after
boiling shows that the rice is sticky and plastic in nature.
"We are still investigating to ascertain how many of this rice
has been circulated and how best to retrieve it in order to protect and
safeguard the health of Nigerians and to bring those behind it to book.”
He spoke further saying, “Before now, I thought it was a rumour
that the plastic rice is all over the country but with this seizure, I
have been totally convinced that such rice exists.
“We have done the preliminary analysis on the plastic rice.
After boiling, it was sticky and only God knows what would have happened
if people consumed it.
“I advise those economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a
peak period for nefarious acts to desist from such illegal business. The unit has decided other operational modalities that will make them run for their monies and count their losses.”
He described smuggling as a global phenomenon, adding that such act
could not be curbed entirely but could be brought to its barest
minimum, and appreciated well-meaning Nigerians who provided the service
with prompt information that led to the discovery of the bags of
plastic rice.
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