Border communities are aiding smugglers, says Nigeria Customs Service

On 10 February, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) disclosed that its anti-smuggling efforts were being undermined by the unpatriotic residents of some border communities who actively aid smugglers.

Speaking at a two-day seminar on Challenges of Border Control organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), held in Topo, Badagry in Lagos State, the Acting Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit in Zone A, Mr Victor Dimka, said such border community residents were not only shielding smugglers from arrest, but were in fact joining them to attack officers and men of the Service.

He said some of the attacks had been deadly, as the border villagers and smugglers sometimes use firearms that are more sophisticated than those used by the Customs men. He however disclosed that the NCS will soon take delivery of new weapons that will be used to counter such attacks very effectively. He expressed optimism that “With the current management of Customs, some of the challenges (being encountered) in border patrol will soon become history”.