By Giwa SHILE
The Zone `B’ of Nigeria Customs Federal Operation Unit, has seized three trucks loaded with smuggled spaghetti and rice, with Duty Paid Value of N74 million.
The Area Controller of the zone, Mohammed Mustapha, disclosed this while showing journalists the seized items at the Command on Wednesday in Kaduna.
He said that a truck loaded with 1,800 cartons of smuggled spaghetti, was apprehended along Jibiya- Katsina axis on Sept. 23.
Mustapha added that one Dangote truck loaded with 120 bags of smuggled rice was intercepted on Zaria-Kaduna road while a BUA truck loaded with 55 bags of rice was also seized within the week.
“As soon as documentation is finalised, the seized items would be transferred to the Nigeria Custom Service Headquarters.
“The suspects arrested in connection with the cases are also in custody and as soon as investigations are concluded, they will be prosecuted.”
The area controller stressed that the customs service would not relent in its efforts to crack down on smugglers and prosecute them.
“I advise smugglers to embrace legitimate businesses rather than continuing with their illegal activities.
”We are going to continue with the seizure and they are going to lose; they should embraced good business,’’ Mustapha said.
The official urged the management of Dangote and BUA to impress it on their drivers to desist from colluding with smugglers.
”Rice is being produced in all states of the country and Federal Government is trying to diversify and make our economy better, so as to avoid foreign exchange being wasted on imported rice.
“Most of the rice brought in through the land borders are already expired but usually re-bagged in neighbouring countries and therefore not fit for human consumption,’’ he stated.
