About 2000 bags of rice has been intercepted by the anti-smuggling teams of Oyo/Osun area command of Customs.

The smuggled rice were intercepted at Abaja Road off Igbeti axis of Oyo State around 3.30am on Tuesday.

They were packed in 40 assorted vehicles, adding that the drivers of the vehicles and fled into nearby bush.

Briefing newsmen at the Customs headquarters in Ibadan , the area Controller of the Command, Mr Richard Oteri said the smuggled rice has a Duty Paid Value(DPV) of  #20,000,000.

Oteri said: "It is worthy of note to recollect that a similar seizure of  twenty one  (21) assorted vehicles also loaded with rice was made early last month. The Command will continue to engage in aggressive patrol activities, in all areas of the Command and ensure effective blockage of the entry of all illicit goods.

He said: "It is worrisome that some Nigerians remain unrepentant even as they continue to lose. Not even Federal Government’s visible efforts in transforming the agricultural sector, especially in the area of rice production have touched their conscience to avoid rice smuggling.

"Our resolve to deal with this remains unshaken more so that the present management has boosted our capacity by deliberate re-training and re-tooling.

According to him, the Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi CFR has directed thorough investigation with the view to prosecuting all those that will be found connected to this illegal act".

He reiterated the Command resolve to keep these saboteurs and make them face the full wrath of the law.