The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has given reasons why it has been difficult for its officers to completely stop the smuggling of rice into the country from the borders.
NCS spokesman, Mr. Joseph Attah, gave the explanations while speaking to Newsmen following complaints by the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria that the country had been flooded with smuggled rice.
While agreeing that Customs cannot claim to we have been able to completely wipe out smuggling of rice and any other prohibited items, Attah noted that as long as there are human beings ready to cut corners; that are driven by selfish interests; driven by profit motives and all that, there will be some isolated cases of smuggling.
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‘We have some compatriots who are ready to serve as informants to smugglers. We are aware that some smugglers provide motorbikes and telephone handsets for some people in border communities.
‘Those things are provided for informants to monitor the movement of our anti-smuggling operatives and to provide information as to where we are; where we are heading to and how some of these smugglers can safely sneak through.
‘Those that have beaten the `watch-and-check’ are assisted by fellow Nigerians. That is the reason you find some smuggled items in the markets and that is why you see cases of raiding warehouses by our officers and men,’ Attah explained.
He said that the Service had been engaging traditional rulers in border communities to be on the same page with the Customs in the interest of the country.
But Attah said Customs was committed to ensuring that the Federal Government’s policy on rice and other food production succeed.
He said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Rtd. Col. Hameed Ali, had read the riot Act to Customs officers in commanding positions to arrest the rot.
He said the officers were directed to ensure that rice smugglers and those who dealt in smuggled rice did not have any respite.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
