The Ogun State Area Command II of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has formally sanctioned the release of a bullion van that garnered attention in 2022, following its apprehension with smuggled rice and a substantial N24 million.
Customs Area Controller Olusola Alade conveyed this announcement during a press briefing on Friday, revealing that the bullion van, initially seized in April 2022 for transporting 12 bags of 50kg smuggled foreign parboiled rice, has now been released. This information is in accordance with reports from the News Agency of Nigeria.
The vehicle, identified with the registration number FKJ 993 BZ, was traced back to an Abeokuta branch of Access Bank and was found to also contain the sum of N24.4 million. Subsequently, both the cash and the bullion van have been relinquished to officials of Bankers Warehouse Ltd. and Access Bank in Abeokuta.
What Customs said
“The bullion van belonged to Bankers Warehouse and was impounded on April 22, 2022, by a joint border patrol team along the Sokoto-join/Joga road in the Abeokuta axis.
“The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has now ordered the release of the bullion van and the money to both the Bankers Warehouse and Access Bank on compassionate ground after investigation,” Alade said.
“The seized 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 in Abeokuta for safekeeping.
“After examining the vehicle, the money was discovered and deposited at the Abeokuta branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 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,” Alade explained.
Following the apprehension of the bullion van and funds, Bankers Warehouse Ltd. and Access Bank submitted an appeal letter to the Customs’ Comptroller-General, requesting the release of both the vehicle and the money on compassionate grounds.
After thorough examination of investigation outcomes and recommendations, the Comptroller-General, in accordance with the provisions outlined in Section 248 (1) and (2) of the NCS Act, 2023, has granted approval for the release of the bullion van and its accompanying funds.
