In a bid to ensure safety of the country’s borders, the Nigeria Customs Service says it has arrested illegal migrants with contraband items worth millions of naira across the country.
The Public Relations Officer of NCS, Joseph Attah, said that the joint border patrol by security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser has made a large number of seizures and arrests in the North West, North Central, South West, and South South geo-political zones.
“As at September 10, 2019, 100 illegal migrants have been arrested while seizures so far include: 8,360 (50kg)bags of parboiled foreign rice; 122 bags of fertiliser; 77 vehicles; 781 drums filled with premium motor spirit; as well as 16,371 empty 200 litres drums to be used for smuggling; 1,491 packs of assorted drugs; three outboards 40HP engines; 13 Cotonou boats; 185 drums of groundnut oil; six trucks; 114 motorcycles; among other items with 117 suspects.
“As part of the efforts to sustain the rigorous patrol along the national borderlines, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.); Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede; and the coordinator of the exercise, Brig-Gen. Emmanuel Ndagi, have commenced on-the-spot assessment of the implementation and compliance of the ongoing border security drills.
“The exercise, which is being led by the NCS and the Nigeria Immigration Service, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as the Nigeria Police Force and other security and intelligence agencies, are intended to better secure our borders, boost national economy and strengthen border security,” the Customs spokesperson stated.
The NCS, however, urged Nigerians and the business community to corporate with the joint patrol team to further create a conducive environment for local businesses to thrive.
