Customs Releases The Bullion Van That Was Seized Two Years Ago And N24. 489 Million.

ABOKUTA – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ogun II Area Command has released a bullion van that was apprehended on April 22, 2022, for allegedly being used to smuggle 12 bags of 50 kg each of foreign parboiled rice into the nation.

As the Ogun II Area Controller, Bisi Alade, turned over the bullion van which had been seized with the 12 bags of foreign parboiled rice and the N24,489,500.00 found inside, she revealed that the money belonged to Access Bank PLC Abeokuta Branch, while the van actually belonged to Warehouse Ltd.

Alade disclosed that both the vehicle and the money were detained by officers and men of the Joint Border Patrol Team for being used to conceal some bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each into the country.

He said, “On the instruction of the Comptroller General Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we gather here today, to release the bullion van with registration number FKJ 993 BZ in our custody.

“The vehicle belongs to Warehouse Ltd while the money belongs to Access Bank PLC, Abeokuta Branch and both were detained by the Officers and Men of the Joint Border Patrol Team for being used to conceal some bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each.

“On 22 April 2022, officers and men of Joint Border Patrol Team at the Olorunda axis, in Abeokuta North local government area of Ogun State, intercepted the used bullion van with Reg. No. FKY 993 BZ found to have concealed some bags of foreign parboiled rice and N24,489,500.00, along the Sokoto-ljoun/Joga road, Abeokuta axis of Ogun State.

“The foreign parboiled rice which were 12 bags of 50kg each were carefully concealed in the said vehicle.

“Consequently, the said vehicle and the items were conveyed to the Customs House, Abeokuta for safekeeping. After conducting examination on the vehicle, the said amount of money was discovered and deposited at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Abeokuta branch for safekeeping.

“The vehicle was detained while the rice was converted to seizure in line with section 168 of Nigeria Customs Service Act,2023.

“In connection to the above seizures, three suspects were arrested, detained, granted administrative bail and subsequently charged to Court for aiding smuggling.

“In a bid to retrieve the detained bullion van and the money, the Bankers Warehouse Ltd and Access Bank wrote an appeal letter to the Controller General of Customs, for release on compassionate ground. Based on the outcome of the investigation and recommendations of the Investigation Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, the CGC granted approval for the release of the detained van and the money in line with the provision of section 248 (1) and (2) of NCS Act,2023.”

Speaking on revenue generated by the command, Alade disclosed that a total of N21. 657 billion was generated as revenue for the year 2023.

He said, “the command generated a total sum of over N2. 042 billion as revenue only for the month of November 2023, while a total revenue generated for the year 2023 stood at over N21. 657 billion”

“The service will not give up on carrying out its legally mandated duties. We will keep supporting industry growth, trade, and production in Ogun State. We will also keep using intelligence to enable efficient oversight and strong stakeholder participation in our operations.