The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 15 trucks containing food items in Sokoto State as part of its efforts to prevent smuggling which has aggravated the rising cost of commodities in the country.

Abubakar Chafe, spokesperson, NCS, Sokoto Command, told journalists on Saturday, February 17, 2024,  that the vehicles were stopped along Gwadabawa-Illela road.

Mr. Chafe said the interceptions were made due to the quantity of the farm produce the trucks were carrying.

He said the trucks were presently in custody of the command and that investigation had commenced to ascertain the owners and destinations of the food items.

He explained that the operation was carried out by a combined team of the NCS Sokoto command, officers of the federal operation unit and the intelligence unit of the service.

Mr Chafe added that the operation became necessary with the prevailing inflation of food items in the country.