203 bags of imported rice, five vehicles, and 1,245 live rounds of ammunition worth N17 million were found abandoned in a bush path in the Yewa-North LGA of Ogun State by men from the Nigeria Customs Service
Bamidele Makinde, the state’s area comptroller, revealed this to reporters on Monday, August 14.
The Roving B Team of the Command “intercepted five old vehicles, (Toyota Camry with Chassis No. Chassis No. 4TIBG22KIWU312145, a Toyota Camry. 3 Mazda 626 vehicles with Chassis Nos. 4TIXK1263NU108237 are also included. JM2GD14H201568566, JMZGF14F201173029, and JMZGF14P20141862 respectively), loaded with 203 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50 kilograms each, were left in a bush path at Tobolo Junction, close to an exit to the Republic of Benin, and close to Ijoun, in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.
About 1,245 rounds of live ammunition in 70mm (234”) caliber with the Lion, Trust, Supreme, and Redstar brand names were discovered when the seized vehicles and the object were examined. These rounds had been cleverly hid inside 20 bags of the foreign rice that had been intercepted.
The seized rice and ammunition have been deposited for safekeeping while further action is taken; the duty-paid value of the items is N17,638,145.00.
The investigation to identify the cartel responsible for the attempted smuggling of the goods is still ongoing, according to Bamidele.
