The Ogun State Space Command II of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has formally launched a bullion van that made headlines again in 2022, having been apprehended with smuggled rice and a whopping N24 million.
Customs Space Controller Olusola Alade made this announcement on Friday throughout a press briefing, disclosing that the bullion van, initially impounded in April 2022 for transporting 12 baggage of 50kg smuggled international parboiled rice, has now been launched, based mostly on studies by Information Company of Nigeria.
The van, which was traced again to an Abeokuta department of Entry Financial institution, additionally harboured the sum of N24.4 million. The money and the bullion van, sporting the registration quantity FKJ 993 BZ, have been handed over to officers of Bankers Warehouse Ltd. and Entry Financial institution in Abeokuta.
What Customs mentioned
- “The bullion van belonged to Bankers Warehouse and was impounded on April 22, 2022, by a joint border patrol staff alongside the Sokoto-join/Joga highway within the Abeokuta axis.
- “The Comptroller-Common of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has now ordered the discharge of the bullion van and the cash to each the Bankers Warehouse and Entry Financial institution on compassionate floor after investigation,” Alade mentioned.
- “The seized international parboiled rice which have been 12 baggage of 50kg every have been rigorously hid within the mentioned automobile. “Consequently, the mentioned automobile and the objects have been conveyed to the Customs Home in Abeokuta for safekeeping.
- “After inspecting the automobile, the cash was found and deposited on the Abeokuta department of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) for safekeeping.
- “The automobile was detained whereas the rice was transformed to seizure in step with Part 168 of Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
- “In connection to the above seizures, three suspects have been arrested, detained, granted administrative bail, and subsequently charged to court docket for aiding smuggling,” Alade defined.
Subsequently, Bankers Warehouse Ltd. and Entry Financial institution submitted an enchantment letter to the Customs’ Comptroller-Common, in search of the discharge of each the van and the cash on compassionate grounds.
After cautious consideration of investigation outcomes and proposals, the Comptroller-Common authorized the discharge, aligning with the provisions of Part 248 (1) and (2) of the NCS Act, 2023.
