By Okey IROEGBU
As the Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 2 covering the South West Zone winds up with other Joint Border Patrol Teams according to the report reaching this media through the recent announcement emanenting from the National Security Adviser, this media decided to do an over view of the exploits of DC Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu the Coordinator of the team. “The Federal Government in 2019 constituted the joint operation with the view to curbing smuggling activities and other cross-border crimes that threaten our national and economic security. The exercise has achieved tremendous success going by the number of interceptions of prohibited items, channeling of procedures, generating revenues through additional payments and auction sales with the proceeds remitted into the federation account," DC Shuaibu said. Going from the more recent to some months past, the information reaching this media has it that the most recent seizure in November 2024 has it that the Team made seizures of 675kg of cannabis; 816 bags of 50kg parboiled rice; 802 jerrycans of 25 litre premium motor spirit; 8 vehicles; 285 bales of used clothing and 61 jumbo sacks of used shoes. The team
arrested 34 illegal migrants across international borders who have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further action. He added that the cannabis were seized around Idiroko and Imeko areas of Ogun State during routine patrol operations. The seizures were made within a period of four weeks in Nopvember 2024. Before handing over the cannabis to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Shuaibu said “the effect of having this quantity of drugs in circulation would be devastating on individuals, communities and the society as a whole. Illicit drugs is often linked to organised crime, violence, banditry, kidnapping and health related issues. "We urge all patriotic citizens to partner with us in combating smuggling because your support is crucial in identifying the smuggling networks and routes. Jointly we can safeguard Nigeria’s economy, ensure national security and safeguard public health ” he said Between July and August 2024 from the information reaching this media, the team made seizures of smuggled items worth N1,381,030,400 and arrested 15 suspects between July and August 2024. They also seized 4,019 jerrycans of 30 litres premium
motor spirit from smugglers within a week At a press briefing recently in Lagos, the Coordinator of the team DC Shuaibu told journalists that the seizures are a fallout of intensive anti smuggling activities across various border areas in the South Western States of Nigeria. The breakdown of the items seized are 2,633 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice;868 jumbo bales of used clothing;790 pieces of 100ml codeine syrup; 338 sacks or artificial raisins and 154 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa. Other items seized include 135 sacks of used footwear; cars; motorcycles and other items. All these were deposited into the 6 Government Warehouses across the sector including Seme and Idiroko. He reiterated that “together with the Nigeria Immigration Service being a critical component of the Joint Border Patrol Team, we intercepted One Hundred and Twenty Five (125) Person Refused Entry, Eleven (11) Person Refused Departure, Eighteen (18) Trafficking in person and Two (2) Suspected Trafficking Agents who violated Immigration laws and were immediately handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and prosecution where necessary. “The Sector also recovered a total of Twenty Six Million One Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Naira (N 26,131,260) only Revenue through the issuance of Debit Notes (DN) on vehicles and other goods were underpaid. The Coodinator on Friday, June 28, 2024 announced the interception of 4,051 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3,751 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, as well as 425 cartons of frozen poultry products across the South-West Zone of Nigeria. He disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Customs Training College Ikeja, the operational headquarters of the sector where he said that five suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures and are undergoing investigation and prosecution. According to him, the team intercepted 30 illegal immigrants. “With the Nigeria Immigration Service as a critical component of the joint border patrol team, we intercepted 30 illegal immigrants suspected to have violated immigration laws and were immediately handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation and prosecution,” he added. However, he said
that the team intercepted these contrabands within their area of jurisdiction adding that some were intercepted at the creeks. “In our effort to actualise the mandate of combating smuggling and trans-border crimes, we intercepted some goods for violating various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Government’s Import and Export Guidelines, the goods worth N1.128 billion.” He further said the unit also intercepted 30 sacks, 85 blocks and 125 wraps of cannabis sativa, and 912 pieces of used tyres. Seven used vehicles were also intercepted, 30 vehicles used as means of conyenace of the seized items, 1 truck and 4 bicycles were equally among the seizures. All the seized items according to him contravened various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Government’s Import and Export Guidelines. As we all know, the Joint Border Patrol Team is an offshoot of the border closure to still maintain sanity along the borderlines. They exist to fight against smuggling more on fire arms and amminitions. According his address, “these crimes have multiple effects such as; undermining national security through the movements of illicit goods, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, across the international borders, and impacts negatively on the economy by depleting the nation’s revenue base through duties and tax evasion. According to him, the seized goods were seized and deposited at Seme, Ogun I, Ogun II, Oyo/Osun and Ondo Ekiti Area Commands Government Warehouses. On the issue of some of the resident commands using their seizures housed in their warehouses, to showcase as their own seizures, DC Shuaibu has this to say below; "Nigeria Customs Service remains the same no matter the various commands and units, their services and mandate remain the same. The bottom-line is to facilitate trade in line with international procedures and the enforcement of laws guiding any breech in this trade facilitation like smuggling, concealment, wrong declarations of goods imported and so on. "On the issue of government warehouses, we should know with the appellation that the warehouses belong to the government and not a particular command. The JBPT by its mandate and statutory responsibility like the Federal Operations Units have the right to drop their seizures at the nearest warehouses to the seizures. You are aware of the volatile nature of these smugglers who are ready to attack the enforcement officers while returning these seizures to the warehouses. It is therefore advisable for the officers to secure the seizures at the nearest available government warehouses. "Our work does not give pleasure to non-compliant traders and the diehard smugglers. The Customs enforcement requires an alternate tactical approach because these smugglers are not happy when they make losses. We are therefore required to also let them know the dangers behind their nefarious activities through sensitization programmes like town hall lectures where they also participate. "That we are not frequently organizing press briefing does not mean that we are not performing. JBPT is a distinct unit with various security operatives involved. One of the main purpose of the unit is to take serious care of the security of the nation by blocking all infiltrations through the nation's borders," DC Shuaibu said. On administration of the unit, he quickly responded that the officers and men of the unit are very cooperative in line of their duties. The unit has greatly provided a wonderful opportunity for the various security operatives in the nation to work together. The coordinator attributed the zero casualty level in the team successful operations to proper planning and careful execution. He said the team applies intelligence and proper study of any area where seizures are to be made before striking. DC Shuaibu commended the dedication, doggedness and professionalism of officers involved in the interception of the substances which would have caused more security threat. The Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, South-West Zone, Lagos did not relent in their efforts in keeping the recreant smugglers at bare at the Southwestern corridors which is known for its high volume of smuggling as a result of its proximity to the neighbouring Benin Republic. The team which was initiated by the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has seriously sanitized the borderline from arms infiltrations. Finall, he thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for giving them the opportunity in this dispensation to serve the nation.
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