The Nigeria Customs Service (NIS), Ogun State Area II Command, has announced the release of a bullion van that was apprehended in April 2022 at the Olorunda area.
The van, registered as FKJ993BZ, was seized on allegations of involvement in smuggling foreign rice across the border communities of Ogun State.
The bullion van, which was transporting ₦24,489,500 in cash belonging to a first-generation bank, was found to have concealed 12 bags of foreign rice.
The Area Comptroller of the Ogun II Command, Bisi Alade, revealed that three suspects were arrested, detained, and subsequently charged to court for aiding smuggling.
The release of the bullion van and the confiscated money comes after an eight-month detention. The vehicle, owned by Warehouse Limited, and the funds, belonging to Access Bank PLC Abeokuta branch, were detained by joint border patrol officers on April 22, 2022, along the Shokoto-Ido-Doga Road in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Alade explained, “We gather here today to release the bullion van with registration number FKJ993BZ in our custody. The vehicle belongs to Warehouse Limited and the money belongs to Access Banks PLC Abeokuta branch and both were detained by the officers and men of the joint border patrol team for being used to conceal some foreign parboiled rice of 50 kilogram each.
“On 22nd April 2022, officers and men of the joint border patrol team at the Oluranda axis of Ogun State intercepted the bullion van with registration number FKJ993BZ found to have consisted of foreign parboiled rice N24, 489, 500 along the Shokoto-Ido-Doga Road Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“The foreign parboiled rice which was 12 bags was carefully concealed in the vehicle.
“Consequently the vehicle and the contents were conveyed to the Customs House Abeokuta for safe keeping. After conducting an examination on the vehicle, the said amount was discovered and deposited at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abeokuta branch for safe-keeping.
“The vehicle was detained in line with Section 168 of the Nigerian 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,” Alade disclosed.
The release was granted following an approval from the Customs Duty Committee (CDC), based on investigation and recommendations. This decision aligns with the provisions of Section 24, 8, 1, and 2 of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023.