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.
Area Controller in charge of the Western Marine Command, Lagos, Sarkin Kebbi, said that the NCS realised that desperate smugglers who divert to the creeks will meet their waterloo.
The controller gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.
He said 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 Beach Combing Unit of the command was on 24 hours surveillance of the creeks with a view to foiling operations of any syndicate.
Kebbi said that the command would soon take delivery of two gunboats to facilitate its operations.