A fully loaded truck attempting to smuggle thousands of cartons of Indonesian-made Giv Perfume Beauty Soap through the closed Nigeria-Niger Republic border has been intercepted by the Customs Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 4, North-West Zone in Gumel, Jigawa State.
The Coordinator of Customs Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 4, North-West Zone, Comptroller Kolapo Oladeji, told journalists in Kano that the movement of the truck was not only economic sabotage but also a security risk. He emphasized that the Niger-Nigeria border had been closed down as directed by the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Comptroller Oladeji stated that the owner of the seized goods contravened Sections 245 and 248 of the Nigeria Customs Act (2023) by engaging in the smuggling of contraband goods. He therefore warned Nigerians to avoid moving goods and humans, even animals, through Nigeria-Niger border routes. Any movement of goods and services, whether legitimate or illicit, through these routes is prohibited following ECOWAS orders.
‘As you all know, the entire border of Nigeria-Niger Republic is closed. So, when we see anything on that route, we pick it. You don’t have to pass through that border, whether you are carrying contraband or legitimate goods,’ he added. According to him, the truck was intercepted and abandoned under a tree at Danladi Primary School in Gumel, Jigawa State. His team trailed the truck from the Niger border routes to this point of abandonment based on credible intelligence gathering.
Comptroller Oladeji also expressed concern about smugglers who bring sub-standard and contraband goods into the country, affecting both the stability of the Naira and local manufacturers’ fortunes.
