The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Area II Command, has officially released a bullion van that was seized in April 2022, following its involvement in the smuggling of rice along border communities in the state.
The bullion van, with registration number FKY 993 BZ, was intercepted by officers and men of the joint border patrol team at the Olorunda axis of Ogun State.
The command revealed that the vehicle, which was used to conceal foreign parboiled rice in 12 bags of 50kg each, also transported the sum of N24,489,500 belonging to Access Bank PLC at the time of its seizure.
The Controller, Ogun Area II Command, Bisi Alade, announced the release of the bullion van to its owner, Bankers Warehouse Ltd., during a briefing with journalists in Abeokuta on Friday.
Alade explained the circumstances surrounding the seizure, stating that the money was discovered after a thorough examination of the vehicle.
The foreign parboiled rice and the detained vehicle were then conveyed to the Customs House in Abeokuta for safekeeping.
The rice was converted to seizure in line with Section 168 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Following the investigation and recommendations of the Nigeria Customs Service’s investigation unit, the Comptroller-General of Customs approved the release of the detained van and the money, in accordance with Section 248 (1) and (2) of the NCS Act, 2023.
Alade further disclosed that three suspects were arrested, detained, granted administrative bail, and subsequently charged to court for aiding smuggling in connection with the seized bullion van.
In a separate development, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Charles Orbih, provided insights into the activities of the command for the year 2023.
Orbih stated that the command made 125 seizures amounting to N802 million during the year. Notably, the command intercepted combat-ready unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, along with military hardware.
The seized drones lacked the essential end-user certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser and exceeded the allowed specifications for entry into the country.
Orbih highlighted that the command generated a significant revenue of N30.5 billion between January and December 2023, surpassing its yearly target by 5 percent.
He disclosed that while the investigation is ongoing, three suspects connected to the seizures will be charged to court as soon as the process is completed.
These developments underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Customs in curbing smuggling activities and ensuring compliance with regulations.
The release of the impounded bullion van raises questions about the balance between enforcing the law and addressing potential economic implications, adding another layer to the complex dynamics of border control and trade management in Nigeria.
