By Ifeyinwa Obi
Nigerian Custom Service, Sokoto Command, comprising Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states has adopted drastic measures to curb menace of smuggling in the zone.

It also said it has seized contraband goods worth N26 million in the last two months.
The Area Controller, Mr Husseini Abdulkarim said the rate of smuggling activities has reduced drastically in the zone as a result of proactive measures adopted by the command.

According to him, the influx of smuggling activities were successfully curbed due to regular seizures of contraband goods being made by officers of the command which has put fear in the minds of perennial smugglers in the zone.

“I must tell you that things are really changing in the customs service and our men are always on the move trying to see that smugglers are apprehended, this is the reason why we had been hieving a lot in recent times”, Abdulkarim said
The Controller added that the command received new patrol vehicles from the Custom Headquarters which has gone a long way in ensuring effective patrol of the border areas.

Abdulkarim maintained that with the new improved welfare in the service, officers are really motivated to give their best towards achieving revenue targets and desired goals of the Federal Government.

He said the contraband goods include a DHL containerized vehicle carrying 160 bales of blankets worth N6 million with a duty paid value valued at N7.6 million, pointing out that the truck was intercepted at Illela border and it is valued at N15 millionHe explained that the second seizure was a truck fully loaded with textile purportedly imported from India.

Abdulkarim stated that the consignment was intercepted along Kebbi-Sokoto road as a result of a tip off by informant on the movement of the smugglers.

“As you aware, we received intelligence on the activities of these smugglers and their movement at the water side. So, I ordered my men to trail the consignment and as such the seizure was made along Kebbi-Sokoto road”, he said.

He therefore called on the public to give useful information to the command on the nefarious activities of smugglers in order to curb the ugly trend in the zone.