The Nigeria Customs Service has announced the seizure of 34 containers of rice smuggled through the Tin Can Island port in Lagos.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali (retd), disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday.
He said one of the rice containers was concealed by its importers as spare parts.
He said, in addition to the 34 containers of rice, the service intercepted 11 containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products, two containers of used tyres, one container of used clothing and four containers of refined vegetable oil in retail packs, bringing the total to 52 containers of seized contraband.
Ali put the duty paid value of the seized goods at N2.7bn.
He attributed the seizure to the recent closure of the land borders, which he said had prompted importers of banned items to route them through the seaports.
He said, “Specifically, we are aware that the partial closure of the land borders has resulted in the diversion of some cargoes back to our seaports.
“While we welcome this development, which no doubt will boost revenue, improve our trade facts and figures and sustain our diversification efforts, we have also recorded a number of seizures of unwholesome products, which otherwise would have been smuggled through the borders.
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