Breaking: Smugglers’ Boat Conveying Petrol Capsize in Seme as Customs, Navy, Immigration Make Seizures
A boat operated by suspected smugglers transporting fuel in 25 litre jerrycans has capsised along the Seme Border area approaching Republic of Benin.
Sources close to the border disclosed that a combined team of Customs officers assisted by operatives of Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Immigration Service have recovered most of the floating jerrycans carrying premium motor spirit (PMS).
While the capsized boat has been washed ashore, the petroleum products are being assembled for counting as at press time.
Smuggling of Nigerian government subsidised petroleum products is believed to have increased the country’s recorded fuel consumption level as the products are smuggled to neighbouring West and Central African countries of Benin Republic, Niger and Cameroun.
Under Comptroller Dera Nnadi, the new Customs Area Controller of Seme, there has been a sustained anti smuggling onslaught resulting in multiple seizures of smuggled items and arrests of smugglers.
Notable among the seizures made are fake United States dollars, illicit drugs, petroleum products, rice, flour, donkey skin, dead rats and birds and other items.
No suspect arrest has been disclosed as at the time of this report.
