Bullion van stuffed with smuggled rice, intercepted

November 15, 2016 6:47 PM

The Oyo/Osun Nigeria Customs Service command has apprehended a bullion van filled with smuggled rice.

Bags of rice

The Oyo/Osun Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service has revealed that a Bullion Van concealing imported

The Area Comptroller, Mr Tolulope Ogunkua, told newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday, November 15, that the vehicle was intercepted in the Saki axis of Oyo state, Punch reports.

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It was also revealed that some seizures were made, including 30 fairly used vehicles from different locations in the area.

Ogunkua also said that the arrests would serve as a deterrent to recalcitrant saboteurs of the Nigeria economy.

The comptroller explained that he found it worrisome that some Nigerians have remained unrepentant despite the many losses they have suffered following seizures of these items but that the command remains unshaken in its determination to deal with them.

Punch reports that two persons were arrested with the bullion van and have been in their custody, to be charged to court soon.

Ogunkua added that the command had been trailing that particular bullion van which usually moved in the company of police escorts.

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According to him, the command's surveillance team exchanged gunfire with the suspects before they were finally subdued.

“You will recall that I had reiterated our resolve to increase the revenue profile of the command and to tirelessly reduce the incidence of smuggling.

“In keeping to this promise, the command initiated new anti-smuggling strategies which led to remarkable exploits evidenced in the situation on display today.”

In a similar occurrence, soldiers and customs officers clashed at the Arena Market, Oshodi, in Lagos, during an attempt to seize six containers filled with contraband goods.