The Federal Operations
Unit, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 102 bags of
plastic rice branded “Beat Tomato Rice” with no date of manufacture.
The Customs Area
Controller of F.O.U. Comptroller Mohammed Haruna, on Tuesday in Lagos
said that the commodity was stored for distribution as Yuletide gifts
for the public.
Haruna said that officers of the unit
intercepted the plastic rice along Ikeja area on Monday, adding that a
suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
He said,
“Before now, I thought it was a rumour that the plastic rice is all over
the country but with this seizure, I have been totally convinced that
such rice exists.
“We have done the preliminary analysis on the
plastic rice. After boiling, it was sticky and only God knows what would
have happened if people consumed it.
“I advise those economic
saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for nefarious acts to
desist from such illegal business.
“The unit has decided other operational modalities that will make them run for their monies and count their losses.”
He
described smuggling as a global phenomenon, adding that such act could
not be curbed entirely but could be brought to its barest minimum.
Haruna
appreciated well-meaning Nigerians who provided the service with prompt
information that led to the discovery of the bags of plastic rice.
The
controller, however, advised the media to educate the public on the
existence of plastic rice, adding that it was no longer a rumour.
Haruna
assured the public that the distribution point of the particular
plastic rice seized by the unit had been blocked with immediate effect.
He said that investigation was still ongoing.
The
controller said the unit would handover the plastic rice to the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for proper
investigation.
(NAN)