15 trucks carrying food items were seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Sokoto State as part of a major operation to stop smuggling and its effect on the rising prices of commodities. The NCS Sokoto Command spokesperson, Abubakar Chafe, revealed that the operation happened on Saturday, February 17, 2024, along the Gwadabawa-Illela road.
The vehicles were carrying large quantities of farm produce, which suggested possible smuggling activity, and led to the decision to intercept them.
The command is holding the trucks while it conducts investigations to find out who owns the food items that have been seized and where they were headed.
This coordinated effort involved the NCS Sokoto command, the federal operation unit, and the service's intelligence unit, demonstrating the NCS's comprehensive approach to addressing the National food crisis.
The operation demonstrates how the service is fighting smuggling operations that lead to higher prices of commodities in Nigeria in an effort to reduce inflation pressures on food.