LAGOS: The Nigerian Customs Service says it has uncovered plan by some high profile criminal gangs to smuggle dangerous items into the country using delivery trucks belonging to courier companies. Consequently, the service said it has opened an investigation into the discovery of contraband items hidden in consignments in trucks from Benin Republic to Nigeria through the Lagos and Ogun states borders.
The investigation may not be unconnected with the recent arrest of a truck suspected to belong to a courier company used in conveying 100 cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products and several used tyres. The arrest was made by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service attached to Headquarters Compliance at Owode-Idiroko border, Ogun State. The team, led by Assistant Comptroller of Customs Shittu Ajibola, accosted the smugglers along Ijebu-Ode-1Sagamu axis in the state. The headquarters’ special forces, acting on information, had seized several fake, substandard and adulterated goods loaded in delivery trucks along the border thereby fueling suspicion that criminal gangs may be using the method to smuggle illicit items into the country. An official familiar with the case told Daily Trust that the seized foreign poultry products are believed to have been loaded onto the delivery van at Owode, where the criminals’ warehouse is located. A source told Daily Trust that the Customs High Command in Abuja is not taking this discovery lightly as it has directed all officers to be on the lookout for delivery trucks plying border towns as there is likelihood that they may be used in the shipment of dangerous items such as drugs, arms and ammunition. No arrest was however made in the recent arrest involving a delivery truck allegedly belonging to the courier company. But an intensive manhunt for the driver and his assistant is on to enable security operatives unravel the actual identities of those behind the new trend. The team leader, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Shittu Ajibola, who confirmed the latest development, said his men are still investigating the frozen poultry products and used tyres in courier van issue. “The latest security approach led to the interception of the truck along the Ijebu-Ode – Sagamu road on January, 13, 2016 at about 5.30am “Nobody would have thought that a vehicle that ought to be used to ferry parcels and other materials, could be used for smuggling. This has fueled suspicion that the recent seizure may not be the first time such illicit transaction will have taken place.” Ajibola promised to use every resource at his disposal to fight the cankerworm of smuggling in line with the mission and vision of the NCS new management.
