Customs Uncovers Smuggled Bags Of Rice Packaged In Ambulance

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has uncovered 11 bags of rice packaged in an Ambulance as a dead body.

A suspected smuggler, Moses Degbogbahun was however arrested in connection of the smuggled items.

In a press statement made available by the Command’s public relations officer, Taupyen S. K, revealed that the items were concealed by the smugglers as a dead body in a Volvo ambulance car (740GLE) with registration No. Lagos DV 74 EKY was arrested along Aradagu Tollgate road on the 31st August, 2016 by 0600hrs.The mobile patrol team leader CSC Ozah, M. stated that the frequency of the said ambulance patronizing the international route with the alleged “dead body” was becoming alarming. This aroused the curiosity of the patrol team and necessitated the stoppage of the vehicle (ambulance) for proper examination.

The ambulance was discovered to be carrying Eleven (11) bags of imported rice that was carefully arranged and wrapped as a corpse when examined. The management of Seme Command however, warned that no amount of smuggling antics along Seme border route will go undetected by the eagle eyes of officers and men of the Command on patrol. The suspect is still undergoing investigation for possible prosecution.

This seizure was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command, Uche Ejesieme. He said said the container has been handed over to NAFDAC . Ejesieme also stated that the Command also handed over two suspects to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for falsification of SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) document.Also, the Tin Can Island Command of the NCS recently intercepted a Container load of suspected expired medical device imported into the country by the. The 40ft container of the suspected expired medical devices was however handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) by the controller of the command, comptroller Yusuf Bashar.

Meanwhile, the CAC has challenged clearing agents and importers operating at the command on honest declaration. The CAC made the promise when he met with stakeholders and executives of freight forwarding associations at the command recently.

He however pointed out that trade facilitation can only be achieved in an atmosphere of honest declaration, which he said will allow for seamless flow of documentation in the system.