The Joint Border Drill Operations in the North-Central zone has seized 1,212 bags of imported fertilizers with a duty paid value of about N17 million among other 110 different items in two months.
Speaking with journalists on the activities of the border operations in Ilorin, the Coordinator of the Operations, Garba Mohammed, raised the alarm that unscrupulous elements now use fertilizer to produce explosives rather than agricultural purposes.
Garba maintained that the illegal goods were intercepted along the Bokuro, Alapa, Chikanda, and Babana axis in Kwara state hinting that the Federal Government has banned the importation of fertilizer because of its high explosive nature.
The Assistant Comptroller General of the Customs, who chided border communities for aiding smugglers, advised host communities and local dwellers to stop seeing smuggling as a means of livelihood.
Other seizures include 2,794 bags of foreign rice equivalent to 46 trailers, 114 cartons of HIV drugs without NAFDAC number, 55 units of various types of used vehicles, with a total duty paid value of N127,222,800.00.
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Meanwhile,13 suspects were arrested in connection with the seized goods but were given administrative bail.
A total of 15 Benin Republic nationals, who entered the country through bush path via Kabour-Okuta-Taso road, were equally intercepted and repatriated.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
