- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Customs Service Oyo/Osun Command has intercepted a truckload of 2,290 smuggled used tyres.
This was made known in a statement signed by the Command’s Spokesperson, Kayode Wey, on Tuesday.
As contained in the statement made available on the agency’s Facebook page earlier today, the truck conveying the used tyres was apprehended along Saki axis of Oyo state on Monday with the consignment seized.
Reacting to the incident, the Command’s Area Comptroller, Ben Oramalugo, stated that importing and smuggling used tyres into Nigeria is illegal due to the significant risks they pose to public safety.
He noted that worn-out tyres are unsafe for road use, and their circulation endangers lives and property.
“The used tyres were discovered during a routine stop-and-search operation conducted by one of the Command’s anti-smuggling teams. Upon inspection, the tyres were found hidden within the truck in a bid to evade detection by law enforcement officers,” He said.
While commending the effort of the Command, Oramalugo stressed the importance of continuous surveillance, intelligence gathering, and the commitment to ensuring that only legitimate goods are allowed entry into the country.