Nigeria, 2 neighbouring countries in renewed operation against smugglers

The Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) has stated that Operation Swift Response which was launched two years ago has transformed into Nigeria’s Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) as part of a Tripartite Operation, comprising Benin, Niger and Nigeria to tackle smuggling activities

In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, DC, Joseph Attah listed some items as highly prohibitive as borders were.reopened.

He said: “With the reopening of the borders for commercial activities, items such as parboiled rice, frozen chicken, illicit drugs, among others remain prohibited.

“The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) in a goodwill message to the transformed Operation SWIFT RESPONSE, applauded the unflinching commitment of the security operatives to the national assignment, and urged them not to rest on their oars.

“The NSA further stated that the joint patrols would be adequately administered and charged the operatives to display a high level of professionalism during the operation with their neighbouring counterparts.

“This was because Nigeria has a widely acclaimed track record of security operations not just at the ECOWAS level, but the world at large.

“Meanwhile, a year and four months into the operation, the smuggling of illicit drugs and proliferation of small arms and light weapons used to exacerbate Violent Extremism and Terrorism in some parts of the country have been significantly curbed.

“This is in addition to the quantum of seizures of prohibited items and numbers of arrested irregular migrants as the operation progresses.

“As at 5 January2021;1,401 irregular migrants had been arrestedwhile the total seizures were; 159,506.7-(50kg) bags of parboiled foreignrice; 10,447 bags of NPK fertilizer used for making explosives; 1,974 Vehicles; 895motorcycles; 18,690.

“3 Jerricans of Vegetable Oil, among other seized items. The total monetary value of the apprehended items is aboutTwelve Billion, Five Hundred and ThirtyEightMillion, Three Hundred and Thirty Three Thousand,Five Hundred andForty Five NairaFifty Kobo(₦12,538,333,545.50)”, the statement concluded.