The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Units Zone A, Ikeja, announced that it made a total of 1,119 seizures of contrabands valued at N10 billion in 2023.
The Customs Area Controller, Hussein Ejibunnu, provided details during a press briefing, highlighting the various items seized, including foreign rice, vehicles, marijuana, tramadol, used tyres, poultry products, footwear, and petroleum products.
According to Ejibunnu, the most significant portion of the seizures was foreign parboiled rice, totaling 139 trailer loads, equivalent to 83,170 bags of 50kg each. The seizures were part of the Customs’ efforts to combat smuggling and enforce regulations on prohibited goods. The duty paid value of the seized contrabands was estimated at N10,395,123,943.
This announcement underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Nigerian authorities in curbing the illegal importation of goods, particularly foreign rice, into the country. The Nigeria Customs Service continues to play a crucial role in safeguarding the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with trade regulations.