Customs Release Seized Bullion Van with Over ₦24m and 12 Bags of Foreign Rice

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released a bullion van that was seized in April 2022 for smuggling foreign parboiled rice and a large sum of money.

The van, which belongs to Bankers Warehouse Ltd., was intercepted by the Joint Border Patrol team along the Sokoto-Ijoun/Joga road in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The bullion van was found to be carrying 12 bags of 50kg smuggled foreign parboiled rice and a staggering sum of N24,489,500.00 belonging to the Abeokuta branch of Access Bank.

The NCS, after conducting an investigation and following recommendations, decided to release the van and the money on compassionate grounds.

Three suspects were arrested and charged to court in connection with the crime. The release of the seized bullion van and the money was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the NCS Act, 2023.

In a statement made by the Customs Area Controller, Olusola Alade, he emphasized that the NCS would continue to deploy sustained intelligence, surveillance, effective monitoring, and robust stakeholder engagement in their operations to tackle all manners of economic sabotage in and around Ogun State.