The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
Joint Border Operations Drill, Sector-3, covering North Central zone of Niger kogi Benue and Kwara, has seized smuggled goods worth over N98.3 million in the last three weeks.
Head sector 3 Coordinator of the Team, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, disclosed this during a press conference in Ilorin on recently
He said, prohibited items seized include1,437 bags of foreign rice of (50kg each). 430 bags out of these were concealed in bags of Onions, Maize, Millet and Beans. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) is N24.4million.
“Also seized were 494 Tin-tomatoes; 25 units of vehicles; 18 bales of second-hand clothing and 15 sacks of shoes, intercepted at Jebba-Mokwa, Okuta, Alapa, as well as Kotangora axis of the region, through intelligence”.
Uba revealed, that since his assumption of duty in sector 3, the sector has recorded 151 seizures consisting of 134 Used Vehicles; 14, 576 Bags of rice- equivalent to 15 trailers; 303,609 litres of Petroleum Products; 362 bundles of textile materials, 11 illicit weapons; 129 motorcycles used in smuggling banned items, among others. The total DPV of the seized items is N802,542,040.”
arrested 23 suspects in connection with the seized items, highlighted
Outstanding seizures worth over N135million just a month of his last press briefing.
“ credited the efforts of officers and men of the sector, that worked tirelessly to reduce smuggling in Sector-3 area of operations, covering the North Central States of Nigeria,
by the new strategies the sector initiated in anti-smuggling that led to these remarkable feats, he said
Speaking further with newsmen, Comptroller Uba explained, join border 0perations drill, sector 3 also engaged our stakeholders through meetings. Some of the stakeholders like IPMAN, PTD, Traders, Market women, Textile and Shoe dealers Association, in our efforts to sensitise them about the need to support government’s policy on border closure
“Also paid courtesy visits to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Emirs of Ilorin and Kaima. Equally embarked on operational tours to Ilesha-Baruba and Gwanara axis of the sector”.
Uba stressed that sector 3 must continue to sustain the tempo in anti-smuggling operations in the North Central zone.
And warn illicit traders to desist from illegal trades and engage in legitimate businesses, in order to support economic growth”
“lastly he said, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Federal Government has announced total closure of all land borders. our team in Sector- 3 remains totally committed to the enforcement of this Executive Order”.
