THE Joint Border Patrol Team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested 34 illegal immigrants and seized a wide array of contraband goods.
The seized goods included 816 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 802 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 285 bales of second-hand clothes, and other illicit items.
Speaking in Lagos, the team’s Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller Mohamed Shuaibu, revealed that enhanced patrols, sustained surveillance, and improved intelligence gathering along border corridors were instrumental in disrupting smuggling networks.
Shuaibu stated: “In our unwavering commitment to combating smuggling, we are safeguarding Nigeria’s economy and ensuring national security. Our efforts to disrupt smuggling activities align with the Federal Government’s zero-tolerance stance on these crimes.
“These activities not only threaten economic stability but also fuel insecurity and exploit vulnerable citizens. Our officers’ dedication has yielded significant results, with the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of seizures in the past month standing at N556.43 million. “Additionally, N8.02 million was generated from auction sales of PMS that could not be warehoused due to its flammable nature.”
(Vanguard)