The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday said that it was prepared to frustrate efforts of smugglers who would resort to using creeks because of heavy security on land borders.
Mr Sarkin Kebbi, the Area Controller in charge of the Western Marine Command, Lagos, said that the NCS realised that desperate smugglers would divert to the creeks and would checkmate their activities .
The controller gave the assurance in an interview in Lagos.
He said that customs officers and men in the command had been mobilised to counter antics of smugglers on the waters.
“We are aware of the season we are in now, and with the tight security on the land borders, it is expected that smugglers will want to make use of the creeks.
“It will surprise them to know that the creeks are also covered with proactive officers and men who know the terrain more than them.
“We are working with information gathering from the communities unlike before when officers worked without community inputs,’’ Kebbi said.
He said that the command was on 24-hour surveillance of the creeks with a view to foiling operations of any syndicate.
Kebbi said that the command would soon take delivery of two gun boats to facilitate operations.
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