Matthew Otoijagha
The Niger Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it intercepted 163 contraband goods worth more than N200 million in 2017. The Command’s Area Comptroller, Benjamin Binga, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Minna on Monday.
Binga said that some of the items seized included used vehicles, used tires, rice, and furniture and second hand clothes, among others. He warned smugglers and others aiding and abetting them to desist from any form of smuggling as the Command’s personnel had been deployed on illegal routes to arrest and prosecutes smugglers.
He said that the Command would go extra miles to check activities of smugglers within the area of its operation. The Customs boss expressed optimism that the security measures in place would curtail smuggling in the area.
He solicited for support of stakeholders, traditional and religion leaders to mobilize their followers to assist field officers with information on movements of smugglers. The Area Command controls operations of NCS in Niger, Kogi and Kwara states.