Customs Intercepts 400 Bags Of Smuggled Rice Concealed Under Water Melons

Four hundred bags of smuggled rice and six hundred bags of fertiliser have been intercepted by the Customs Federal Operation Unit Zone “B” Kaduna.

The development was revealed by the Comptroller, Customs Federal Operation Unit Zone “B” Kaduna, Mustapha Sarkin-Kebbi, on Tuesday.

Sarkin-Kebbi while speaking on the interception stated that the items were discovered after the unit’s operatives attached to Ilorin/Jebba/Mokwa axis discovered new antics deployed by smugglers.

The Comptroller in a statement released through the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Usman, noted smuggled rice were “criminally sandwiched between watermelons in two trucks, which further examination revealed were 400 bags of 50kg rice each.”

“Our officers arrested two trucks laden with 140 units of refurbished gas cylinders smuggled into the country from the Niger Republic.”

“Another truckload of NPK fertilizer was arrested along Jibia/Agangaro axis of Katsina State and after 100 per cent physical examination, the vehicle was found to contain 600 bags of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer smuggled into the country”.

He further stated that any goods imported, landed or unloaded contrary to any prohibition shall be forfeited as stated in the section.

Sarkin-Kebbi added that other items seized were 200 pieces of used tyres, 90 bales of second-hand clothing and 322 kegs of vegetable oil along Katsina/Kano axis.