Customs Seize A Rice Trailer And Detain 18 Individuals

18 alleged members of a smuggling ring have been detained by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos.

According to a statement from NSC, two of the accused reportedly specialized in fabricating customs clearance paperwork in order to smuggle automobiles into the nation via the Cotonou port.

The Acting Controller of Customs Zone A Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu said the arrest followed the interception of one Shuaibu Kolo with a 2007 Mercedes Benz along Ajilete-Idiroko Road in Ogun State.

After Kolo’s arrest, customs officers discovered more than 600 images of automobiles registered in the Benin Republic that were being prepared for falsified clearance procedures before the gang sneaked them into the nation.

Four computer monitors, three computer processing units, one keyboard, and a printer were among the items recovered from the suspects, according to Ejibunu. Other items included a fake Customs valuation stamp, a fake Customs duty chart book on vehicles, fake Customs documents, and fake vehicle registration documents.

According to Ejibunu, investigations into 18 people who were detained in connection with different charges are ongoing.

Among the items confiscated, he said, were “5,328 x 50 kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (equal to nine trailer loads) and a 40 foot container with 512 boxes of generators, among others.”