Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Joint Task Force, Border Drill Operations has raided smugglers’ warehouses and seized over 800 bags of smuggled rice in Unyenge, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The task force, which comprised the Nigeria Customs Service, the Army, Air Force, DSS, and the Police, were led by a Comptroller of Customs and Sector Coordinator for South-South and South East Zone, Mr Shehu Abubakar.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Abubakar described the area as smugglers haven, comfort zone and city of rice, which was discovered through intelligence information.
Abubakar threatened to burn down smugglers’ warehouses in the area if they continue to engage in such illegal activities.
According to the leader of the task force, the law gave the customs power to search premises and to patrol freely, noting that being in possession of smuggled items was an offence punishable under Customs and Excise Act.
He said the exercise was in accordance with the Federal Government decision to grow the local economy and to free the country from substandard goods.
Abubakar said this would be the first time to raid the area after many years, stressing that smugglers threatened to attack any security operatives that dare to disrupt their operations.
“We are here at Unyenghe community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to check and seized products smuggled into this community.
“This is the first time security agencies visit this community after so many years of smuggling activities in the area. They threaten to attack any security agency that may want to visit the area.
“They should rather start embarking on legitimate trade, because if we come back and find out that they are still in the line of the illegal business, we will have no option than to burn down their makeshift houses,” he said.
Abubakar warned the people in the coastal community not to aid the smuggling activities, adding that the smugglers might be smuggling weapons and other dangerous equipment that might turn out to be destructive to the community.
He commended the Component Commanders for their cooperation in the exercise to ensure success.