Food smuggling

How High Cost Of Rice Made Smugglers Build Special Smuggling Tanker

Rice smuggling through Benin border has increased since recession hit Africa’s largest economy, a situation that has pushed the price of a bag of rice up to double its usual price.

In Benin Republic a bad of rice still sells for less than 14,000 Naira but in Nigeria the price of the same quality of rice is not sold be less than 20,000 Naira.

Briefing reporters about the special tanker discovery at the command’s Idiroko border office, the new Area Controller, Hassan Gangua, said the MAN diesel petroleum tanker with number plate FST 51 XE, was specially built for smuggling.

He said the tanker filled to capacity with the smuggled rice was intercepted by customs operatives of the command along the Idiroko border axis on its way to Lagos.