The Niger/Kogi Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 57 assorted vehicles valued at about N238 million in different parts of Kogi and Niger states.

The command also said it collected about N50.8 million as internally-generated revenue (IGR) in September.

The comptroller of customs in charge of the command, Busayo Kadejo, disclosed this while addressing reporters on Wednesday in Minna.

He said the command was putting measures in place to step up security at the border posts to curtail illegal trades and prevent contraband from coming into the country.

The comptroller explained that the command would also carry out a 100 per cent physical examination to prevent offensive goods from being smuggled into the country through the borders of the area.

He said that the command also discovered five illegal routes exploited by smugglers in its area of supervision.

“We also seized 21 bales of second-hand clothing, 90 bags of fertiliser, 2,900 litres of PMS (petrol) and 36 bags of foreign rice,” he said.

Mr Kadejo further stated that the area command had issued an effective operational order to its field officers at the border posts on how to tackle the menace of smuggling.

He said the command was also partnering with other security agencies in the state to ensure the arrest and prosecution of smugglers.

The comptroller expressed optimism that the security measures in place would prevent smuggling business in whatever form.

“We have also reached out to traditional rulers, especially those at the border posts, to assist our field officers with reliable information on the movement of smugglers.

“We are battle ready to prevent all prohibited items from coming into our area of supervision through well-coordinated security approaches,” he said. 

(NAN)