By Uzor Odigbo
As part of efforts to suppress smuggling this yuletide period and beyond, the Nigeria Customs Service Strike Force has made it a black Christmas for smugglers with single huge seizure of 8,413 units of 50kg bags of rice.
The rice we’re suspected to be smuggled into Oniko Village in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.
According to a social media post by the service spokesperson, Joseph Attah, the strike force team led by a superintendent of customs, Ohagwu Jude made the seizures which includes 524 units of 25 liter vegetable oil.
The operation, according to Attah, lasted between Tuesday and Saturday morning.
“The team arrived the village on Tuesday night, the 18th day of December, 20118..Officers and men of the FOU ZONE B and those of Niger/Kwara/ Kogi Command gave the Strike Force Team re-inforcement , assistance and escort for safe evacuation of the seizure to the Station in Ilorin. Assistance also came from the army who provided back up throughout the operation.
“National cordinator of Strike force DC, Abdullahi Kirawa rushed to the scene and supervised evacuation that last through the night.
“The seizure has been handed over to the Government Warehouse Keeper in Ilorin for safe Custody”
Attah added that customs is ending 2018 with unrelenting efforts that will make the outgoing year a sad one for smugglers.
“This quantum of rice seizure is coming closely on the heels of seized 59 containers of tramandaol and other controlled drugs across across the commands.
NCS is ending the year, 2018 on a very high note making it a black Christmas for Smugglers.” he concluded