*The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has warned Nigerian consumers to desist from buying any smuggled imported rice

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a move to prevent consumption of the contaminated rice harmful to human health, Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has said that its operatives intercepted over 1,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country through the Benin Republic border.

ConsumerConnect reports Hussein Ejibunu, Acting Comptroller of the Unit, disclosed this development at a media briefing Thursday, May 5, 2022.

The NCS Controller said the rice with the production label from India was smuggled into the country through the Benin Republic land border.

Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.), Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service

Ejibunu, however, noted that before further action, bags of the staple food item consumer products were tested by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

In the process, he stated that it was confirmed the seized rice contained lead, which he said is poisonous to human health.

“After seizing the smuggled rice, we called NAFDAC to conduct laboratory analysis it was gathered that the rice named SIMBA which consists of Led substances that is poisonous to the body was produced in India,” Ejibunu also said.

The Acting  Controller , therefore, warned Nigerian consumers to desist from buying any imported rice.

According to him, “no smuggled items will escape through the borders in the South-West under my watch.”