Kogi and Niger states.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The comptroller of customs in charge of the command, Busayo Kadejo, disclosed this while addressing reporters on Wednesday in Minna.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He said that the command also discovered five illegal routes exploited by smugglers in its area of supervision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also seized 21 bales of second-hand clothing, 90 bags of fertiliser, 2,900 litres of PMS (petrol) and 36 bags of foreign rice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He said the command was also partnering with other security agencies in the state to ensure the arrest and prosecution of smugglers.<\/p>\n
The comptroller expressed optimism that the security measures in place would prevent smuggling business in whatever form.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are battle ready to prevent all prohibited items from coming into our area of supervision through well-coordinated security approaches,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n