Border patrol impounds bullion van, N6bn smuggled goods in S/West

Authority in charge of the Joint Border Patrol (JBP), Sector 2, South West Zone, on Tuesday said it impounded contraband cargo worth over N6 billion from suspected smugglers in four years.

Coordinator of the team, Comptroller of Customs, Mohammed Nuru Hassan, made this known while briefing newsmen on the activities of the JBP from August 2019 to January 2023 in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

It also said it impounded a bullion van and about 701 means of conveyance of the smuggled items from those it referred to as economic saboteurs.

It said the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the contraband totaling about 258,385 is worth N6.2billion and  formed the bulk of goods which was intercepted between August 2019 and January 2023.

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Compt. Hassan noted that the purpose for setting up the JBP has to a very large extent been achieved despite the many challenges of assaults, connivance, open fraternity and loss of lives suffered.

He revealed that over 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures, but have been granted administrative bail, adding that the collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also yielded one conviction with others at various levels of legal processes which will be heading for the court.