Customs seizes 517 bags of rice, 320 kilo weed in Sokoto

The Sokoto Command of Nigerian Customs
Service (NCS) has seized 517 bags of foreign rice and 320 parcels of
Indian hemp of 1kg each illegally smuggled into the country.

Addressing newsmen on Saturday in Sokoto, its Comptroller, Gimba
Umar, said other items seized included 34 bags of Sugar and 45 bales of
second hand clothes all intercepted at various routes in Sokoto and Kebbi states in the last two weeks.

Umar said the items had total duty paid value of N14.9 million.

He said that the Indian hemp were wrapped in paw-paw shape of one kilogramme each when the Volkswagen Golf car conveying them was apprehended.

According to him, no suspect was arrested in connection with the
offence as the suspects fled and abandoned the vehicle in an uncompleted
building.

He commended the Police for their support which facilitated successful
apprehension of the illicit substances, stressing that when the
suspects approached Customs check point, the quickly turned back which
arouse suspicion.

The comptroller said other areas where the items were intercepted
included Argungu-Kangiwa, Illela, Sokoto-Gusau, Kamba and Dole Kaina
axis.