Yelutide: Customs Uncovers Warehouse Filled With Plastic Rice
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed the presence of plastic rice in Lagos as it uncovered a warehouse in Lagos where plastic rice were stored for sale during the Yelutide season.
Speaking in Lagos Yesterday, the Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Compt. Haruna Mamudu said the unit seized no fewer than 102 bags of the plastic rice at an unnamed warehouse in Ikeja.
According to Mamudu, the rice which was bagged ‘best tomato’ had no manufacture, expiry date and NAFDAC registration number.
He said, “As I speak with you, we have successfully evacuated 102 bags of 25kg branded tomato Rice without any date of manufacture not to talk of expiration date and NAFDAC Batch Number.
“We are still investigating to ascertain how many of this rice has been circulated and how best to retrieve the in order to protect and safeguard the health of Nigerians and bring those behind it to book.”
The CAC said preliminary analysis of the boiling showed that the rice is sticky and not hygienic for consumption.
His words, “Preliminary analysis on the plastic rice after boiling showed how sticky the rice was and only God knows what would have happened if our people consumed it.
“I advise those economic saboteurs who see yelutide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal business as the unit has devised other operational modalities that will make them run for their monies and count their loses.”
The CAC however lauded Nigerians who provided intelligence for the discovery of the warehouse where the plastic rice were uncovered.
He stated further, “You will agree with me that smuggling is a global phenomenon, which cannot b curbed entirely but can be brought to its be a rest minimum.
“I also want to use this medium to appreciate well meaning Nigerians who provided us with prompt information that led to this discovery,” he stated.
