The Ogun State Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted a petrol tanker and about 25 other vehicles loaded with smuggled bags of rice.
The new Area Controller, Hassan Gangua, disclosed that the interceptions were recorded in different parts of the state in the last two weeks.
Ganga, who spoke at the command’s Idiroko border office, explained that the diesel petrol tanker was specially built for smuggling.
He said the tanker, which was filled to capacity with the smuggled rice, was intercepted by customs operatives on Monday November 15, 2016, along the Idiroko border area, on its way to Lagos.
“This interception was made 24 hours after my arrival by our gallant officers,” he added.
Gangua added that 25 cars with built-in compartments, loaded with bags of smuggled rice, were also intercepted in the Idiroko area.
The area controller said a trailer was also intercepted at the Lagos-Sagamu interchange with about 500 bags of rice on Monday November 21, 2016.
He said, “The goods, which were neatly packed, were being taken to the Eastern part of the country to be sold in the open market.”
Three suspects - Anthony Nwapa, Osunkwo Chukwu and Hyginus Igbokwe - were arrested.
As Yuletide approached, smuggling had been on the increase.
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