Customs arrests notorious rice smuggler

TRACKING >>THE Ogun State Customs Command on Wednesday said it had arrested a notorious suspected smuggler in the Owode area of Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to the Comptroller of Customs in the state, Michael Agbara, the suspect popularly called Victor Owode was arrested for allegedly smuggling several bags of rice into the country.

He said the suspect had been charged before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi and remanded in prison.

Agbara disclosed this at a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in Idi-Iroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

He said the command generated the sum N 1, 281, 034, 042.80 in the month of July as against its target revenue of N643, 471, 763.99 for the same month.

Agbara also disclosed that the command had intercepted 7, 848 bags of smuggled rice, equivalent of 13 trucks in the month of July, 2019. He noted that the seizure was the highest recorded by the command.

He said: “This is evidently a patriotic duty by the Service to fully align with one of the cardinal federal government policies targeted at boosting agricultural development with a view to attaining national food self-sufficiency.

“The seizure of 7, 848 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 23 units of vehicles (seven used vehicles and16 means of conveyance) and 32 kegs of vegetable oil. 201 pairs of used tyres, three sacks of used foot wears, 320 bags of sugar, 4 bales and 1 sack of secondhand clothing.”

He also announced that Ogun State command had been split it into two commands in line with the decision was taken at the Nigeria Customs Service Board 50th Regular Meeting held on May 21, 2019.

Agbara explained that the unbundling was done with a view to enhancing administrative efficiency and boost revenue generation for the service.