Photo caption: The intercepted tyres
The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, said it intercepted 2,290 pieces of used tyres along Saki Axis in Oyo State.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Dr Ben Oramalugo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
He said that the command intercepted the contrabands, which were concealed in DAF trucks, during an operation on Monday.
“The seizure was part of the command’s ongoing efforts to curtail the smuggling of prohibited items into the country, thereby protecting public safety and promoting the integrity of the Nigerian economy,” Oramalugo said.
Oramalugo explained that the used tyres were discovered during a routine stop-and-search operation conducted by the command.
“Upon inspection, the tyres were found hidden in a DAF truck in an attempt to evade detection by law enforcement officers,” he said.
Oramalugo pointed out that importation and smuggling of used tires into the country is illegal adding that it has posed a significant risk to public safety due to its worn-out nature.
The Oyo/Osun Customs boss further emphasised that the seizure highlighted the importance of the command’s continuous surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts.
He mentioned that the successful interception of the items was a testament to the vigilance and dedication of officers of the command, “who work tirelessly to prevent the smuggling of substandard and prohibited goods into Nigeria,”
He vowed that the command was committed to ensuring that only legitimate goods were allowed entry into our country, and would continue to strengthen its operations to combat smuggling activities across all fronts,”
He warned smugglers, as well as those involved in the illegal trade of prohibited items, that the command would not relent in its efforts to bring offenders to justice and safeguard the nation’s borders.
The CAC reiterated the command’s commitment to protect the public from the dangers of substandard/smuggled goods stressing that it would continue to work closely with other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the effective enforcement of customs regulations.
