Customs Impound 113 Prohibited Goods Valued N107.67m

The Joint Border Operation Drill set up by the Federal Government to police Nigeria’s borders covering four states in the North Central has said that it made 113 seizures of prohibited goods with a total value of N107.67m within 48 days of its operation in the area.

Coordinator of the JBOD covering four states – Kwara Benue, Kogi and Niger – Comptroller Olugboyega Peters disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday.

He said, “The innovative action adopted by the sector has led to 48 seizures within a space of 24 days while it made another round of 65 seizures of prohibited goods between November 14 and December 7, 2020.”

Peters raised the alarm over continued use of bicycles, motorcycles and tricycles for smuggling of foreign parboiled rice and other goods into the country.

He also said that smugglers now brought in paddy rice in 100kg to deceive officers as against the usual foreign parboiled rice.

He said, “At least, the smugglers carry about 10 bags of foreign parboiled rice on a motorcycle to bring into the country. They also make use of bicycle. This is the means they’ve devised with the aim of beating our men on operations.

“The use of tricycles by the smugglers serve better purpose in the smuggling business as they get quick money through such deals.”

The coordinator said die-hard smugglers were ready to do anything to carry on with their nefarious activities.