The Federal Operations Unit, Zone `A` of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted 10 trailers loads of parboiled rice and other contraband with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.62 billion, from March 9.
The Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Mohammed Garba, made the disclosure to newsmen in Lagos, yesterday.
According to him, the unit also generated N166. 20 million from March 19 to April 9 from duty payment and demand notices on general goods from seaports, airports and land border stations.
“The command also intercepted contraband with DPV of N1.46 billion between March 19 and April 9.
“The seized items include Indian hemp (cannabis sativa), 64 exotic vehicles, 6,003 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent of 10 trailers loads) 963 cartons of frozen poultry products.
“Others are: 431 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 163 bales of used clothing, 569 pieces of used tyres, 69 bags of sugar and four containers, among others.
Garba said that the 570 parcels and 98 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 1,550kg were intercepted on the Olorunda axis of Ogun, following a tipoff.
“These Indian hemp was the highest seizure of such hard drugs in the history of the command.
“Such a drug will have negative effects on consumers if it escapes to the public.
“In the spirit of inter-agency relationship, the seized Indian hemp will be handed over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation,” Garba said.
According to him, the command evacuated 2, 671 bags of 50kg parboiled rice from nine storage houses in Ilogbo, Abeokuta.
He said that the evacuation was done by the Lagos Roving Team complemented by other teams of the service.
The controller said that there were mob attacks on customs operatives but the officers were not deterred from performing their statutory responsibilities.
He that said the seized 64 vehicles, including Toyota Land Cruiser, 2018, 1 Escalades 2017 Cadillac, 2014 Range Rover and 2014 Toyota Highlander, had DPV of N258 million.
Garba said that the command intercepted three 40ft containers and one 20ft container classified CSNU 106087/4 containing 2, 260 cartons of Gonca Spagetti and 530 packages of Rifle Energy drinks.
He said that the goods were intercepted as a result of false declaration, adding that they were declared as baking powder.
