Nigeria Customs Intercepts Trucks Smuggling Food Items to Niger Republic Despite Hunger, Inflation Nationwide

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced the interception of trucks carrying food items at Kajji community on the Sokoto-Kebbi road, destined for the Niger Republic through the Kebbi border.

The Coordinating Comptroller, Mr. Kolapo Oladeji, revealed these interceptions at a media briefing in Sokoto, highlighting the efforts of the joint border patrol team, sector IV, in executing these seizures.

Despite the scarcity of food items and the resultant high cost of living in Nigeria, the smuggling of food to neighboring countries continues. Mr. Oladeji expressed concern over this trend, stating, “We will leave no stone unturned to block food smuggling out of the country because of the current situation in the country.”

He further emphasized the impact of such activities on the masses saying, “Our people are hungry, but they prefer to take the food to other countries despite the border closures imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”

The NCS reiterated its commitment to curbing smuggling activities, warning that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law. The service vowed to continue its efforts to track smugglers and block their routes in a bid to protect the nation’s food security and economy.

Similarly, The NCS also seized a consignment of sex enhancement drugs worth N19.6 million duty-paid value in Sokoto State.