The Nigeria Customs Service, Zone “B” Federal Operations Unit (FOU), has impounded a petrol tanker, a J5 bus and a truck filled with 1000 bags of smuggled rice, on the Kaduna-Zaria axis.
The Controller, FOU Zone B, Usman Dakingari said that the suspects had been arrested and investigation had started.
He also said that another truck conveying smuggled rice, concealed in a bigger bag of maize, was also seized.
Therefore, the smugglers stacked thousands of bags of 50kg bag rice in petrol tankers to give the impression that what they are carrying are petroleum products.
He noted that the smugglers were arrested after intelligence information and regular surveillance by customs officials in Kaduna State.
Dakingari revealed further that the smugglers have also devised the method of mixing bags of rice inside bags containing grain, adding that this is to give the impression that the bags contain only maize.
The Customs comptroller vowed that he and his men are determined to rid the zone of smugglers. He adviced those who engaged in smuggling to desist from the illegal act or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.
