The Sokoto Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), comprising Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States, has intercepted 506 bags of foreign rice concealed in bags of beans with duty paid value of N12.1 million.
Speaking with journalists in Sokoto yesterday, the Customs Location Controller of the command, Mr.
Nasir Ahmad, said his males intercepted 1 truck with 506 bags of rice along Illela-Sokoto road.
He disclosed that the contraband products had been intercepted on Friday as a result of the vigilance of officers on border patrol along the axis.
Ahmad mentioned the contraband goods had been concealed in one hundred kg bags of beans with duty paid value of N12.127,808 million.
“The smugglers devised a trick by concealing two (50kg)bags of rice in a 100 kg bag covered with beans in order to evade our males. But we got intelligence reports from Kebbi state and succeeded in intercepting the contraband,”he explained.
The controller stated that foreign rice was among the prohibited things barred from entry via the land borders.
He named on the smugglers to desist forthwith and embrace the policies of the federal government by engaging actively in farming.
“The federal government is attempting to encourage neighborhood production of rice so that we can have self-sufficiency and conserve foreign exchange. We have WACOT and Labana rice mills in Kebbi State and the seaports are open for anyone who desires to import rice.
“So, there is no hiding spot for rice smugglers via Kebbi.
Smugglers need to go back to farm and engage in commercial farming. What ever tricks they use, we will combat them due to the fact we have zero tolerance for smuggling in this zone,” he stated.