Custom vows to stop illegal smuggling of foodstuffs outside Nigeria 

Following the report published by Arewa Punch on illegal smuggling of rice out of the country to the neighbouring Niger Republic, the Nigerian Custom Service, has vows to henceforth stop any form of smuggling of foodstuffs out of the country.

The Controller border drilling in charge of zone 4, Controller Kolapo Oladeji, said the Nigerian Custom has resolved to use all legal means to ensure no foodstuffs is smuggled out of the country through any of it’s land border.

Speaking while parading some pharmaceutical drugs allegedly smuggled into the country by the smugglers at the Custom Sokoto command office on Thursday, he described the activities of the smugglers as unpatriotic and against the development of the country.

He said the Nigerian Custom is fully committed to ensuring safety environment for residents as well as ensure adequate food supplies to the populace.

According to the controller, “we have been mandated by the Comptroller General of Custom to ensure that no food is allowed to be snuggled out of the country henceforth.

“My team in Zone 4, comprising Northwest states have been empowered through manpower and other equipments to ensure that the task ahead of us is tackled judiciously.

“It is an act of wickedness when our government invest and encourage more persons into farming, and some elements within the country now prefer to smuggle such foodstuffs to the neighboring countries.

“It has to be stopped and I want to assure residents of the state that we are fully ready and prepare to stop such activities henceforth”

Other items seized by the custom officers include Soaps, petroleum motor spirits also known as fuel among others.

Meanwhile, the team in conjunction with officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,  will conduct thorough test on some of the drugs allegedly with fake NAFDAC numbers to ascertain their authenticity.