NIPOST, LASG Impound over 60 Motor-bikes in Random Raid on Illegal Courier Operators

The Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation (MOT), on Wednesday in Lagos, carried out a random raid on alleged illegal courier operators, and intercepted over 60 dispatch riders, with their motor-bikes impounded.

A combined task force from CLRD team, MOT team and the Police team from Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Lagos, which was led by the Assistant General Manager in charge of Ethics, Complain and Strategy at CLRD, Mr. Worimegbe Banks, carried out the raid at the popular Maryland roundabout in Ikeja Lagos. Dispatch riders who are into courier business were randomly stopped at Maryland to check for their valid courier licence, and those without licence, were arrested and their motor-bikes impounded.

According to Banks, those raided, would be profiled and prosecuted according to law, for operating courier business without obtaining operational licence, thereby defrauding the federal government of huge sums of money.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the raid, the General Manager, CLRD, Mr. Gideon Oludotun Shonde, said the combined clampdown operation became sacrosanct due to the unrelenting nefarious operations and unethical practices by the illegal courier operators in the state.

According to Shonde, “Despite the sensitisation and enlightenment programmes embarked upon by CLRD early this year, these recalcitrants continued to operate without a license from NIPOST. They engaged in price undercutting, carry illicit drugs, arms and ammunitions as well as foreign currency, which are against the ethics of this essential service and noble profession.