Customs intercepts smuggled rice hidden under water melons

TRACKING>>THE Comptroller, Customs Federal Operation Unit Zone “B” Kaduna, Mustapha Sarkin-Kebbi on Wednesday said 400 bags of smuggled rice and 600 bags of fertiliser were intercepted in the zone in the last two weeks.

Sarkin-Kebbi said the unit’s operatives attached to Ilorin/Jebba/Mokwa axis discovered new antics deployed by smugglers to evade arrest.

“A large quantity of smuggled rice was criminally sandwiched between water melons in two trucks, which further examination revealed were 400 bags of 50kg rice each,” he said.

Sarkin-Kebbi said this in a statement signed by Mr Abubakar Usman, the command’s spokesman, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

“Our officers arrested two trucks laden with 140 units of refurbished gas cylinders smuggled into the country from Niger Republic.

“Another truck load of NPK fertiliser was arrested along Jibia/Agangaro axis of Katsina State and after 100 per cent physical examination, the vehicle was found to contain 600 bags of NPK 15-15-15 fertiliser smuggled into the country,“ he said.

He said that other items seized where 200 pieces of used tyres, 90 bales of secondhand clothings and 322 kegs of vegetable oil along Katsina/Kano axis.