Customs urge border communities in Katsina state to support fight against smuggling

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has urged border communities in Katsina State to support the service in the fight against smuggling in the state.

Mr Olusemire Kayode, the Katsina/Kaduna Area Controller, made the call on Tuesday in Katsina while conducting journalists round some of the items seized from smugglers in Katsina State.

“We are calling on people in the border communities to provide us with vital information on the activities of smugglers, ” he said.

Kayode said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had provided customs with adequate facilities to enable it effectively secure the country’s borders.

He, however, said that the customs now needed intelligence information from people of the border communities to enable them perform their duties efficiently.

“We need intelligence report from people of such communities on the routes smugglers are using.

“Smugglers use strong vehicles to carry their goods through illegal routes from those border towns into the country.

“We now wants to use this medium to tell people that smuggling is not a legal business.

“Smugglers should find another means of their livelihood, they will continue to count on their losses while we are counting for our success,’’ he said.

Kayode called for continuous synergy between security agencies in the fight against smuggling in the country.

He also urged the media to continue to enlighten people on the dangers associated with smuggling of all forms of prohibited items into the country.