The Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2 of the Nigeria Customs Service reported that in just one week, 1,410 liters of premium motor spirit valued at N30.4 million were seized.
This was revealed by the team’s coordinator, Muhammad Shuaibu, to reporters on Friday at the Customs Training College in Ikeja.
He added that part of the contraband was found at the waterways and that the team found it inside their purview.
In addition, Shuaibu said, the squad apprehended five suspects in relation to the numerous seizures and found more contraband valued at N1.12 billion.
“In our effort to actualise the mandate of combating smuggling and trans-border crimes, we intercepted some goods for violating various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Government’s Import and Export Guidelines, the goods worth, N1.12bn
“They were intercepted across the borders of the six states of the South-West geo-political zone,” he said.
He claims that an investigation and prosecution are underway for the suspects who were detained.
“Other items seized include, 4, 051 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3, 751, Jerry Cans of PMS, 425 cartons of frozen poultry products, 912 pieces of used tyres, 30 sacks of cannabis sativa
“30 units of cars as means of conveyance, seven units of imported (tokunbo) cars, four units of motorcycles among others,” he said.
According to the coordinator, the team also issued debit notes on cars and other items that were illegally smuggled into the nation, bringing in a total of N11.5 million in revenue.
Shuaibu did reveal, nevertheless, that the crew had detained thirty undocumented immigrants.
“With the Nigeria Immigration Service as a critical component of the joint border patrol team, we intercepted 30 illegal immigrants suspected to have violated immigration laws and were immediately handed over to the NIS for further investigation and prosecution” Shuaibu disclosed.
He warned smugglers to desist from the crimes adding that they have multiple effects such as, “undermining national security through the movements of illicit goods, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, across the international borders, which impacts negatively on the economy by depleting the nation’s revenue base through evasion of duties and taxes.”
