EFCC justifies arrest of suspected food smugglers

EFCC justifies arrest of suspected food smugglers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended the arrest of 21 trucks loaded with food items allegedly being smuggled into neighbouring countries, describing it as an economic sabotage.

The Spokesperson of the Commission, Dele Oyewale, said this in Abuja while addressing questions during an interview session with the EFCC Radio.

Disclosing this in a post via its X handle on Thursday, March 7, it reads in part: "The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, justified the interception and arrest of 21 trucks loaded with food items allegedly being smuggled into neighbouring countries, describing it as economic sabotage.

"The justification was made in Abuja on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, by the Spokesperson of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Dele Oyewale while fielding questions in an interview session with the EFCC Radio, 97.3FM.

"According to him, the EFCC is saddled with the mandate of tackling all forms of economic and financial crimes, especially issues that directly affect the economy to avert sabotage. Anything that has a negative bearing on the economy is an act of economic sabotage or serving as a leakage, distortion or disequilibrium in the economy, the Commission has a responsibility to tackle it and that is what the EFCC has done.

"Continuing, the image maker explained that, it is not that the Commission is throwing its nets towards the borders, an arrest can be made anywhere, and the smugglers were arrested at the exit routes leading to Cameroon and Chad as a result of the effectiveness of our surveillance. They could have also been arrested anywhere else but the most important thing is that they were arrested for allegedly smuggling food items that could be useful to Nigerians, which they were not allowed to take out of the country.”

Source: X | officialEFCC