BORDER CLOSURE: Customs patrol team seizes N2.9b worth of rice, vehicles, others

The closure of Nigeria’s land borders have been yielding results as the Joint Border Security Drill, known as operation “Swift Response” said it has so far seized goods and items worth N2.9 billion.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Joseph Attah, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Attah, 47,000 bags of foreign rice and 467 fairly used vehicles have been seized.

He disclosed that 10,553 jerry cans of petrol and 1,012 drums were also confiscated, while 296 illegal immigrants have been arrested at various borders.

Attah, who is also the spokesman of the joint operation, said the recent seizure and the revenue realised by Customs were indications that operation swift response was efficient and effective.

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He said those who could no longer smuggle things in a way that they would evade payment of duties had been forced to re-route through seaports and airports.

He said: “Those who are desperate are attempting to smuggle through seaports and airports like the interception of frozen chickens and meat at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos recently.

“I cannot remember when last customs records such seizure of frozen chickens at an international airport like the way we just did.

“That tells you how effective the operation swift response has been.

“This joint operation is paying off because the porous borders that Customs could not effectively cover before are now well manned by the joint operatives and we’re going after the smugglers.”

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