The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adamawa/Taraba Customs Area Command,says it has intercepted smuggled goods worth ₦51,947,50,0 including 29,825 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Others are three vehicles with hidden compartments, second-hand clothing, and dangerous chemicals such as methylene chloride.
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Speaking at a press conference at the Customs House in Yola, the Area Controller, Comptroller Garba Bashir, highlighted the Command’s recent achievements in anti-smuggling operations.
Bashir reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to preventing economic sabotage, stating, “Illegitimate marketers will not have fresh air until they forsake economic sabotage and embrace genuine business that aligns with government fiscal policies.”
He emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing and collaboration among border control agencies to curb smuggling, particularly the illegal export of petroleum products to neighbouring Cameroon.
Bashir called on oil and gas marketers to collaborate in the fight against smuggling, stressing that illegal activities in the sector seriously threaten the nation’s economy.
In addition to the seizures, the Customs Area Controller announced that the Command had generated ₦173,609,941.31 in revenue for 2024, exceeding its annual target of ₦132 million by over 23.97%.
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This revenue was largely realised through the direct auctioning of seized items, in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Despite the closure of territorial borders, Bashir commended the efforts of Adamawa/Taraba Command Officers, Customs Units and sister security agencies for their role in ensuring successful enforcement of government fiscal policies.
He urged oil and gas marketers, patriotic Nigerians, and the media to join forces with the NCS in tackling smuggling activities, which he described as a “cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian economy.”
The Customs Area Controller stated that the seized PMS would be auctioned to the public immediately after the briefing, following standard operating procedures due to its inflammable nature.
While calling for the continued cooperation of citizens, he reiterated Customs’ commitment to dismantling smuggling networks and safeguarding Nigeria’s borders from security threats linked to illegal trade.