Joint Border Operations generates N7b daily

Coordinator, Joint Border Operations Drill, North Central states, Comptroller Mohammed Garba, has said that an average of N7billion is generated daily as duties on imported goods.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday during the parade of seized goods and items, Garba, who is also the area controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme, said that daily revenue was N4.5 billion before the commencement of the joint operation in August last year.

The Customs boss said that 204 illegal migrants were repatriated during the period under review, including 99 Nigeriens,100 Beniniose, three Malians, and two Chinese.

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The joint border drill, consisting of security agencies such as the Immigration, Police, Army, Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Customs and DSS, said that a total number of 10,000 bags of smuggled rice were seized since the operation started.

Garba, who said that increased revenue was made possible because many illegal border routes were blocked, added that fight against smuggling and illegal importation was intensified to encourage local agricultulral production and development.

The Customs boss, who said that the border closure was not targeted at anyone, individual, group of persons or any community, added that it is for the protection of the nation’s economy.

“It is no longer news that the Federal Government on the 20th of August, 2019 to be precise, partially closed all land borders for the betterment of the nation’s economy, the security of the citizen and for our neighbouring countries to abide by ECOWAS protocols”, he said.

Garba also said that the zone had seized a total number of 10,201 foreign parboil rice of 50kg each with Duty paid Value of N173, 417,000.00 equal to 12 trailers of rice since the operations started.

“Also seized are 52 different types of Used Vehicles, Trucks, Trailers and other vehicles used for conveying Contraband goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N 88, 854, 500.

561 drums of Petrol with Duty Paid  Value (DPV) of N9,480,000.00)

1,670 tablets of Tramadol of 200mg each and Two Packs of Rebozel Drugs containing 500 tablet each with cost value of N 165,000,000 (The said Drugs were  handed over to NAFDAC).

1,524 Jerricans of petrol with Duty Paid Value of N12, 633,250.00.

11 Motorcycles used to conveyed Smuggled goods with  Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N950, 000.00.

94 pieces of Poisonous Charlie Toothpaste with Duty  Paid Value (DPV) of N 33, 840, 00.

68 Tins of Jago Condensed Milk with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N65,280.00.

80 pieces of washing Soap with Duty Paid Value of N 9,600.

128 pieces of poisonous “Read a Dream” Insecticide with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N92,160.00.

85 kegs of Vegetable Oil of 25 liter each with Duty  Paid Value (DPV) of N2,070,000.00.

19 bundles of Second Hand Clothing and Shoes with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N912,000.00.

42 Sacks of Female Second Hand Bags with Duty paid Value (DPV) of N 1,008,000.00”, he said.

He also said that 11 suspects were arrested in connection to the seizures and were released on administrative bail, adding that border closure had improved Security-Banditry, Kidnapping, Smuggling, illegal migrants.