Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) for South West Zone has revealed that illegal goods worth N1.38 billion were seized between July and August 2024.
Gatekeepers News reports that JBPT coordinator, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Mohammed Shuaibu revealed this during a press briefing in Lagos.
According to Shuaibu; the confiscated items, which include 4,019 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 2,633 bags of foreign rice, 868 bales of second-hand clothes, and 790 bottles of Codeine syrup.
The rest are 338 sacks of artificial razing, 135 sacks of cannabis, used footwear, 77 sacks of ginger, 45 bags of food additive Calcium Propionate, and 15 used vehicles.
The coordinator added that the unit arrested 18 suspected human trafficking victims and two suspected traffickers.
He noted that the joint border operation which was created by federal government in 2019, has been effective in curbing smuggling and cross-border crimes, contributing to national security and revenue generation through auctions and additional payments.
The team also worked with Nigeria Immigration Service to intercept 125 individuals denied entry and 11 individuals refused departure due to immigration violations.
In addition, the unit recovered N26.1 million in revenue from underpaid vehicles and goods.
Shuaibu highlighted the growing challenge of fuel smuggling and vowed to intensify efforts to stop such activities, especially as the year progresses.
He urged community leaders and citizens to raise awareness about the dangers of smuggling and urged smugglers to stop their illegal practices, warning that the government is prepared to take action.
The coordinator thanked Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his team for providing support and logistics needed to achieve the results.
