Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers in separate operations have intercepted 22 trucks loaded with food and non-food items heading towards N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central African Republic, Cameroon and Benin Republic.

The Maiduguri Zonal Command during a sting operation on Tuesday at Kalabiri/Gamboru Ngala and Bama roads, Borno State, arrested 21 trucks conveying the items.

The head of Media and Publicity of the command, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement that, “Investigation showed food items cleverly concealed in the trucks that would have gone undetected, but for the vigilance of operatives of the Commission.

“Further checks showed that the waybills covering the goods carried by the trucks indicated their destinations as N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central Africa Republic and Cameroon respectively.”

He said those arrested with the trucks are being profiled and would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

In a related development, the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, intercepted a truck load of beans allegedly being smuggled out of the country by those it described as “economic saboteurs.

It said the truck was found to contain about 400 bags of beans valued at about N61.5 million.

This is even as the command said it arrested about 13 suspects for their alleged involvement in smuggling of contraband items into the country.

The Customs Area Controller, Seme/Krake Command, Badagry, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, said the seizure was made as a result of the continuous surveillance of the border by officers and men of the command.

[DailyTrust]