Customs intercepts 589 rice bags concealed in petrol tanker

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested four suspects in Sokoto who allegedly smuggled 589 bags of imported rice concealed in a petrol tanker.
The Comptroller of NCS in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Command, Nasir Ahmad, made the disclosure to journalists yesterday in Sokoto.
Mr. Ahmad said the smuggled items, which were intercepted on Sunday along Koko-Yauri road in Kebbi state, had N11.1 million Duty Paid Value (DPV).
He said when the bags of rice were removed from the petrol tank they had been contaminated by black oil, which is dangerous to human health.
The comptroller advised smugglers to find alternative legal means of livelihood and stop undermining the nation’s economy.
He appealed to the people, especially those residing in border communities, to assist officials of the command with relevant information to track down smugglers.
According to him, this is the third time the command is intercepting such illegal goods in a tanker.
He said that on investigation it was revealed that the suspects were on their way to Suleja in Niger State.
Mr. Ahmad explained that smuggling cripples nation’s economy and enjoined Nigerians to key into the federal government agricultural support programme on rice cultivation in other to create job opportunities.
“Alternatively, it is recommended that the penalty for non- compliance with the provisions of the EIA Act be a stated percentage of the cost of the project, or stoppage of the project by NESREA to achieve compliance.
“The inclusion of a provision after the offences and penalties provision to include the establishment of an Environmental Crimes Commission (ECC) under the Act to oversee the enforcement of penalties on defaulters.”