South-West: 6,102 bags of rice seized in 2019 Q1 ― Customs

Various items, including 6,102 bags (over 10 trailers) of 50kg foreign parboiled rice with an approximate Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N460.8m have been intercepted by the Comptroller-General’s Strike Force of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) between January 1 to March 30, 2019.

Four suspects have also been arrested over some of the seizures, which range from false declaration to outright prohibition, and are presently on administrative bail, awaiting prosecution, while more seizures were still being examined ahead of their unveiling.

Showcasing the items to newsmen in Lagos over the weekend, National Coordinator of the Strike Force, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Kirawa, said the seizures were made between January 1 and March 30, 2019, in Zone A, which covers the South-Western part of Nigeria.

The other items included 304 cartons by 150 packets of imitation jewelry worth N36.5 million (declared as bead mold); a unit each of Toyota Avalon (N2.5 million) and MAN Diesel truck worth N8.5m; 1698 pieces of used tyres worth N8.5m; 952 cartons of rubber footwear and 140 cartons of rubber soles worth N13.4m.

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There were also 400 cartons of HP Desktop and Monitor worth N55.4 million; 562by50 bags of 1kg Indian Rice and 50 bags by 50pcs of 1kg salt worth N59.9 million; bales of new and old jeans trousers, shirts, ladies’ gowns, belts and handbags, and bales of upholstery materials, among others.

Meanwhile, Kirawa lamented that due to ignorance and unnecessary risk, importers lose millions of Naira to the outright seizure of non-contrabands due to the false declaration, rather than honest declaration and payment of right duties.

According to him, the pirated pieces of jewellery were “not contraband but can be imported if you pay the correct duty. It was seized because its importation is contrary to section 46 of CEMA; apart from being containerised, there was concealment and the entry made was wrong.”