The Nigeria Customs Service, North Central zone, on Wednesday said it had seized some items including imported rice, vehicles, barrel guns, motorcycles, groundnut oil, cosmetics, Tin tomatoes, petroleum products as well as second hand clothing materials from smugglers.
According to the command, the seized items have a duty paid value of N135 million.
The coordinator in charge of the zone, Comptroller Mohammed Una Garba, announced this while displaying the seized items before newsmen in Kwara State.
He said, “One of our focal points since assumption is sensitization, engagement of stakeholders of all the border communities of Ilesha-Baruba, Yashkira, Chikanda and Okuta axis of Baruten Local Government area of Kwara State.
He continued, “Kaiama-Jebba- Mokwa- Wawa- Babanna- Kotangora axis of Kwara and Niger States respectively. Lokoja- Abuja- Lagos- Express Road of Kogi State and Otukpa, Adikpo-Ugbema axis of Benue State where we met and engaged the Stakeholders and Traditional leaders of the various aforementioned communities.”
He further assured citizen that the comand will continue to sensitize and engage stakeholders on the benefit of border closure.
According to the coordinator, the Sector 3 intensified effort had led to evidential records of seizure which include:
•57 units of vehicles of various types
1,355 bags of foreign rice (50kg each)
•Three (3) Long Single Barrel Guns, Knives and 3 Cutlasses at Lokoja axis of Kogi State Handed over to “B” division Police Station Lokoja.
•Two (2) Long Single Barrel Guns, 8 life cartridges and one locally made Pistol at Kotangora axis of Niger State were handed over to “A” division Police Station Kotangora
•20 Bags of Dried Yam Flour of 100kg each
1,728 Jerry Cans of PMS/Engine oil (25 liters each)
•155 Drums with Petroleum Product and Lubricant oil
•16 Motorcycles popularly called Bajaj used in smuggling rice
•12 Bales of Secondhand Clothing and Textile Materials
•68 Jerry Cans of Groundnut Oil of 25 liters each
•322 Cartons of Foreign Cosmetics
•9 Cartons of Foreign Tin Tomatoes
•7 Beninoise and 13 Nigerien illegal migrants were repatriated.
Garba said 6 suspects were arrested in connection to these seizures and were released on administrative bail.
He said border closure has improve security-banditry, Kidnapping, Smuggling, illegal migrants and likewise increase in Revenue Generation.