The Joint Border Patrol Team Sector ‘2’ (JBPT) on Friday said that since its inception on Aug. 20, 2019, it had seized goods worth a Duty Paid Value of over N36.7 billion and intercepted 1,507 irregular immigrants.
Mohammed Shuaibu, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs, also the Coordinator, JBPT, South-West Zone, disclosed this during an awards ceremony for 52 officers at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos.
Shuaibu said that the team, which was formerly called “Operation Swift Response”, also boosted the Federal Government’s revenue through auction sales with an aggregate of N1.14 billion paid into the Federation Account from the sales of seized petroleum products.
He said that the team’s activities enhanced national security through seizures and frustrated the supply chain of illicit goods with security implications and concerns.
Some of the seized items, the JBPT coordinator said, included parboiled rice, pangolin scales, premium motor spirit, frozen food products, used clothes, vegetable oil, riffles, and vehicles.
He said that the team also uncovered 280 suspected cases of human trafficking, seized 480 smuggled vehicles and 1,190 means of conveyance.
“The JBPT was established to address security challenges along the nation’s international borders.
“Insecurity challenges being perpetrated along border corridors are not limited to proliferation of smuggled small and light weapons, illicit drugs, prohibited goods, and other cross-border crimes.
“I can testify of the doggedness and sacrifice of the JBPT Sector 2 in fighting cross-border crimes, and their actions are instrumental in achieving some significant successes.
“On Dec. 3, our patrol team sighted a man running away from a stationed Toyota Camry Saloon car along the Okerete-Ododo bush path of Oyo State, and the fleeing man’s action raised suspicion on the abandoned vehicle which made the officers to intercept it.
“After conducting a search on the vehicle, it was found to contain six pump-action rifles with the following numbers: 602-H22YT- 641, 602-H22YT-397, 602-H22YT-623, 22-MT-0238, P537916, and T051084.
“The rifles with 1,125 pieces of live cartridges were carefully concealed inside sacks containing cassava flakes,” Shuaibu said.
He noted that the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 2 encountered some operational challenges but the challenges were surmounted through collaboration with some critical stakeholders.
The coordinator added that it also developed innovative problem-solving skills and commitment to effective leadership and management to tackle its challenges.
He commended the officers and men of the team across the component security agencies, patriotic citizens and stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to fighting cross-border crimes.
“The tireless efforts you made towards securing our borders by suppressing smuggling, and the interception of illegal immigrants are not unnoticed.
“Thank you for demonstrating professionalism, teamwork, and patriotism in the face of numerous challenges
“I also commend the effort of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for their unwavering support towards the success of the Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector II.
“Your leadership styles and logistics supply are instrumental to our success story at suppressing cross-border crimes. We are grateful for the opportunity to work under your supervision,” he said.
A total of 52 officers of both Customs and Immigration were given merit awards for their selfless service towards securing the nation’s border posts.
The Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) works closely with the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Police, the Immigration Service, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Nigerian Customs Service as the lead agency to ensure improved security at the nation’s border.
The Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, covers the South-West Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria, ànd specifically focuses on the border corridors with neighbouring countries.
