Joint border patrol team (JBPT) in the North Central zone, Section 3, said it made a total number of 35 seizures of various prohibited items with duty paid value of N28.2 million within two months.
Speaking with journalists on activities of the team between April 1 and June 2, 2021 in Ilorin on Wednesday, the JBPT coordinator, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, however, said that smuggling activities is a worldwide phenomena and Nigeria cannot be in isolation.
“All over the world, security agencies can only try to suppress but cannot totally eradicate smuggling in the society”.
The Customs boss said that the seized items include:
637 Bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice, 795 Kegs of 25 liters of Premium motor spirit of 25 liters each, 15 units Nigerian used vehicles, 14 Cartons of Condense Milk, 4 Cartons of Batteries,
14 Tin Tomatoes Paste, and three bags of Sugar.
“Notwithstanding the aforementioned, it is my pleasure to inform you that we have not lost sight of the very important function of the fight against smuggling, human trafficking and compliance with ECOWAS agreement by neighboring countries. We have sharpened our intelligence, re-strategized and drawn a more robust Area of Responsibility (AOR) to help combat these illicit activities”, he said.
Comptroller Peters, who said that officers and men of the team were usually attacked by smugglers on border routes, warned that offenders would be made to face wrath of the law.
“Despite the series of attacks by dare devil smugglers/hoodlums during our course of duty, the Sector will not be distracted from executing her mandate. To this end, anyone caught disrupting our officers in the line of duty or perpetuating nefarious activities of smuggling etc shall be made to face the wrath of the law.
“I hereby wish to express my unalloyed gratitude to other security agencies, Community Leaders, and Youth leaders who are showing concern and are collaborating with the team in the fight against smuggling and human trafficking.
“The sector command will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public, especially the people along the border axis on Socio-Economic implication of smuggling as well as performance of its statutory function of enforcing partial border closure in line with Federal Government fiscal policies”.
