By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

The Nigerian Customs Service, Sector 4 joint border patrol, has seized a consignment of drugs along the Kajiji-Sokoto road, with a duty-paid value of N19.6 million.

The team also intercepted counterfeit drugs, whose duty-paid values were yet to be ascertained.

Speaking to newsmen on the seizure Thursday, the Coordinator of the Joint Team Comptroller, Kolapo Oladeji, said the seizure was made through an intelligence report.

“This kind of drug is dangerous to the health of our people. It has a fake NAFDAC registration number and expiration date.

“Officers and men of the joint border patrol team intercepted trucks loaded with food items heading for the Niger Republic through a border in Kebbi State.

“My team will leave no stone unturned on the blockage of food smuggling out of the country as a result of the current situation in the country. 

“We are aware that prices of food items have skyrocketed due to the unpatriotic nature of some greedy Nigerians, while people are hungry, they prefer to smuggle food to other countries despite border closures imposed by ECOWAS.

“The joint team will continue to trail them and block their routes. And anyone caught in this inhuman act will face the wrath of the law.” 

The joint border patrol team further intercepted 60 jerry cans of petrol along the Illela border, which were instantly auctioned to the general public.