Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Compliance Team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has seized contraband with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N93.7 million in the course of its operations.
The Coordinator of the Compliance Team, Ahmed Azarema, made this known while displaying the seized contraband to news men in Owerri at the Imo/Abia Command of the service.
Azarema said the compliance team, attached to the office of the Comptroller-General of Customs, confiscated 1,028bags of 20 kg foreign rice with a DPV of N8.22 million concealed with motor spare parts.
He said 1,258 bags of 50kg of foreign rice with a DPV of N74.8 million and 111 bales of second hand clothing with a DPV of N10.65 million was also seized by the team.
He said all the items were seized along Aba/Umuahia/Port Harcourt axis adding that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seized goods.
Azarema observed that because of the Yuletide season, smugglers are more desperate and always want to skim their way through but would always fail because of the dedication and ingenuity of the customs personnel.
He, therefore, charged Nigerians against ferrying contraband in and across the country, but to engage in legitimate businesses to avoid their goods being confiscated.
The compliance team coordinator said that locally produced rice is more nutritious, better and cheaper than foreign rice which are preserved with chemicals.
He said that patronising locally made goods would help boost the country’s foreign exchange and provide jobs to the teeming unemployed youths in the country.
Azarema also urged Nigerians to desist from buying foreign rice to encourage the local producers.