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The troops from the 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army have intercepted and seized 139 bags of smuggled foreign rice in Kwara State.
The operation, codenamed “Operation Checkmate,” took place on Monday, January 13, 2025, along the Shao-Jebba Expressway in Moro Local Government Area.
The troops apprehended two vehicles – an Ash-colored Mazda Salon Car with registration number LNR 465 AL and a Premacy Wine-colored vehicle with registration number RA 264 AA – conveying the smuggled rice.
A statement by Lt. Stephen Nwankwo,
Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations of the. Brigade, said reliminary investigations revealed that the drivers were heading to an undisclosed destination before being caught by vigilant troops at a checkpoint.
He said the vehicles and the seized rice have been handed over to Comptroller Faith Mathew Ojeifo of the Nigerian Customs Service Kwara Area Command by Major General Oluwafemi Williams, Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade.
This development comes amidst a series of anti-smuggling operations in Kwara State.
Recall that recently, the Nigerian Navy intercepted 825 bags of smuggled rice in the state.
Similarly, a special task force seized 659 bags of foreign rice and petroleum products in Kwara.
