NEWS
Customs impounds Bullion Van with smuggled rice, N24m in Ogun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area Command II, has confiscated a bullion van filled with 12 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg.
The bullion van that was impounded had the registration number, FKJ 993 BZ. According to report, a huge sumeof N24,489,500.00 belonging to the Abeokuta branch of Access bank was also found in it.
In a disclosure made by the Customs Area Controller, Olusola Alade, on Friday, the bullion van which belongs to Bankers Warehouse Ltd. was impounded in April 2022 by operatives of Joint Border Patrol team along Sokoto-ljoun/Joga road, Abeokuta axis of the state.
He made this statement while handing over the bullion van and the money to Bankers Warehouse and Access Bank officials in Abeokuta.
According to him, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, ordered the release of the bullion van and the money to both Bankers Warehouse and Access on compassionate grounds after an investigation and recommendation.
The Area Controller added that three suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the crime.
Alade said, “On 22 April 2022, Officers and Men of Joint Border Patrol Team at the Olorunda axis of Ogun State, intercepted the used Bullion Van with Reg. No. FKY 993 BZ found to have concealed some bags of foreign parboiled rice and N24,489,500.00, along the Sokoto-ljoun/Joga road, Abeokuta axis of Ogun State.
“The foreign parboiled rice which were 12 bags of 50kg each were carefully concealed in the said vehicle.
“Consequently, the said vehicle and the items were conveyed to the Customs House, Abeokuta for safekeeping. After conducting examination on the vehicle, the said amount of money was discovered and deposited at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Abeokuta branch for safekeeping.
“The vehicle was detained while the rice was converted to seizure in line with Section 168 of Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
“In connection to the above seizures, three suspects were arrested, detained, granted administrative bail and subsequently charged to court for aiding smuggling.
“In a bid to retrieve the detained Bullion Van and the money, the Bankers Warehouse Ltd and Access Bank wrote an appeal letter to the Comptroller General of Customs for release on compassionate ground.
“Based on the outcome of investigation and recommendations of the Investigation Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Comptroller General of Customs granted an approval for the release of the detained van and the money in line with the provision of Section 248 (1) and (2) of NCS Act, 2023.”
The Area Controller said the customs would not relent in its effort to fight smuggling and other criminality in the state.
He disclosed that the command generated a total of N21.657 billion as revenue for the year 2023.
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