The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Command, has seized smuggled rice and beans worth over N12.7 million in Kano State.
Mr Isa Danbaba, the Pubic Relations Officer of the command, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Kano.
“In spite of the outbreak of Coronavirus and the subsequent measures put in place by the Federal and State Governments in the form of lockdown and closure of entry points, it is unfortunate that desperate smugglers take advantage of the situation and engage in devising all possible methods to try to smuggle rice into Kano.
“This is demonstrated by the seizure made on April 15, 2020; by the operatives of the NCS Kano/Jigawa Command of 295 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50 kilogramme each, concealed in 351 bags of beans.
“The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized rice is N6, 603,870:00 and N 6,000,741:00 for beans.
“The total amount of the seized items is N12, 704, 611. The seizure was made between Dawakin Tofa-Dawanau-Katsina Road,’’ he said.
According to him, the Customs Area Comptroller, Nasir Ahmed, warns smugglers to keep away from Kano, adding that officers and men are ready to hit the ground running at all times.