The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a truckload containing 400 bags of beans valued at N61.4 million.

A statement posted on the Service’s official X handle, formerly Twitter, disclosed that the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi made the announcement of the seizure during a press briefing on Tuesday.

According to Bomodi, the bags of beans were stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors at the border.

“In light of our present economic realities, where massive food shortages have been reported across the country, and in line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally, the Command made a seizure of a truckload of beans, totaling 400 bags with a duty paid value of N61.4 million stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors in the border,” he said.

Bomodi further said that revealed that the seized beans will be auctioned to the public.

“The seized beans, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N61,450,000.00, have been deposited in the Government warehouse for safekeeping and are set to be auctioned to the public,” he stated.

The briefing also outlined the Seme Area Command’s anti-smuggling activities from January to February 2024.

The Area Controller also reported 168 interventions by the Command resulting in the seizure of various items including foreign parboiled rice, petroleum, vehicles, general merchandise, illicit drugs, and locally manufactured guns.

He gave the combined values of the seized items from the seizures at N365,888,696.00.

Bomodi added that during the period, thirteen suspects were apprehended with six granted administrative bail while three persons were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), one to the Nigeria Police, while three remain in custody.