Date: 2020-07-09

The Nigeria Customs Service, North Central Zone, Sector 3, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday, said it has seized contraband goods worth N1.2 billion and arrested 53 suspected smugglers between May and June this year.

The Coordinator of the Joint Borders operations comprising, Kwara, Niger, Kogi and Benue states, Muhammed Uba Garba, made the disclosure while addressing journalists in Ilorin.

'Merge Immigration with Customs to avoid duplication' He said the Customs also intercepted a tipper vehicle from Kebbi State with over 140 bags of rice concealed under sand heap, as well as a tricycle used for smuggling rice in Ilorin.

He said: "The joint team raided two warehouses in Ilorin were 674 bags of foreign rice were discovered.

"The team also intercepted two Mitsubishi canter laden with 54 drums of smuggled petrol with a duty paid value of N1.9million with two suspects in Niger State", he said.

Uba Garba maintained that the sector has, within the period, recorded a total of 225 seizures which included 17,490 bags of foreign rice, 310 kegs of vegetable oil, 1 locally made pistol, 944 drums of AGO, 3,676 jerrycans of petroleum products of 25 litres, 355 bundles of textile materials, and 28 bags of foreign fertiliser, among others.