The Joint Border Patrol of the Nigeria Customs in the North Central zone has said that it has repatriated 160 illegal immigrants back to their country.

The Coordinator of the Zone comprising of four States, Kwara, Kogi, Niger and Benue, Comptroller Garba Mohammed who disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday said that the patrol team had also seized 1,437 bags of 50 kg Rice concealed in bags of Onions, Maize, Millet, Beans and Guinea Corn.

The rice value according to the Coordinator was N24,429,000 and were seized around Jebba, Mokwa, Alapa, Okuta and Kotangora axis of the sector.

Other contraband goods seized by the patrol included 25 units of vehicles of various types, 494 tins of Tomato, 18 bales of Second-hand clothing, 15 bags of Second-hand shoes all valued at N98,318,760.00.

Garba said:

“It is worthy of note that since my assumption of duty here in August last year, we have recorded 151 seizures consisting of 134 used vehicles, 14,176 bags of rice equivalent of 15 trailer load, 303,609 litres of Petroleum product, 6,617 litres of AGO, 362 bales of Textile materials, 11 illicit weapons and 129 motorcycles used in conveying smuggled goods all valued at N802,542,540.00.”

“During the period under review, 23 suspects in connection to smuggling were arrested and 160 illegal immigrants were repatriated.”

While he said that Customs would continue to perform it functions to improve the economy of the country, Garba warned economic saboteurs of tough time adding:

“We want to reiterate to all economic saboteurs and their accomplices that the Joint border operation drill sector 3 will continue to emplace efforts to ensure that any items found to be prohibited will be seized and offenders will be sanctioned accordingly.”

He said that the commitment of the Joint border operation drill sector patrol remained unshaken as it was committed to ensure that smuggling was reduced to the barest minimum so that the aim of the closure of the country’s border was achieved.

Garba said, “In order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, COVID-19 in the country, we are committed to enforce the total closure of border announced by the Federal government.”

He called on members of the public to embrace legitimate means of livelihood by avoiding smuggling and take advantage of the Federal government’s efforts of transforming the agricultural sector especially in the area of rice production and effort towards the industrialization of the economy.