The Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of petrol and other prohibited items worth over ten million naira in the past two weeks.
The seized items include 12,435 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, packed in 491x25L and 8 x 20L jerry cans; one used Mitsubishi truck, means of conveyance of the PMS and one used motorcycle, the means of conveyance of the PMS.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Garba Bature Bashir, who assumed the role late last month made this known on Friday while briefing newsmen on the Command’s anti-smuggling operations at its headquarters in Yola.
“In the past two weeks, our drive of thwarting smuggling rings in this command has produce outstanding results. The success recorded so far could invariably predicated on the synergy, robust border management, intelligence sharing and unwavering efforts of our operatives.
“The Command Officers while on anti-smuggling operations along the Command frontiers within the period of two weeks under my leadership had recorded five (05) incidents of interception of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on its way to the neighbouring Country, Cameroon Republic. The intercepted and seized PMS plus the Means of Conveyance hereinafter are Valued at ten million, eight hundred and seventy-one thousand, four hundred and ninety-six naira and twenty-five Kobo only (N10,871,496.25) as the Duty Paid Value (DPV).
“However, during the Operations, no suspect was apprehended, as they abandoned the items and absconded in an attempt to circumvent arrest,” Comptroller Bashir stated.
According to him, the seizure of the items are in line with sections 150 and 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and due to the fact that the Command’s territorial borders are officially closed.
He added: “However, due to the inflammable nature of these PMS, it will be auctioned immediately after this briefing in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) and as enshrined in section 119 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the proceeds accrued remitted into the Federation Account accordingly.
“Smuggling activities had done more harm than good to the nation. It hinders our national growth, strangles our trade policies with regards to revenue, foreign investment, preservation of domestic trade and growth, food security and public security.”
He explained that smuggling networks are often connected to diverse illicit activities, such as money laundering, terrorism financing and human trafficking, which can disrupt national security and the rule of law.
Bashir stressed that the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command will never give up in its fight against the menace of smuggling until the command is purged of it.
“We want to unwaveringly tell the smugglers that our operatives are strategically reposition along the borderlines to fasten their exit out of this illicit business. We advised you renounce economic sabotage and illicit trade into and out of the Command’s territorial borders and adopt legitimate business as the Command Operatives will not rest on their oars until we stamp out smuggling across all the command borders.”
Comptroller Bashir appealed to the citizens to provide the command and NCS with relevant information that can help mitigate smuggling in the country.
“To the border Communities and the patriotic Nigerians, we solicit your partnership in the area of providing timely intelligence that can aid our operations in getting rid of this economic scourge from our nation.
“To the transporters and oil marketers to be vigilant and patriotic in order to deny these smugglers a supply chain. And to the Media Personnel, please do increase awareness campaign to educate the general public on the dangers and negative impacts of smuggling on our socio-economic development.”
He attributed the huge successes recorded so far on the unwavering support and encouragement of the management of the Nigeria Customs Service under the tenacious leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, maintaining that he has continued to give all the required backup and supply chain for the Command’s smooth anti-smuggling operations.
He further said: “We wholeheartedly appreciate his unrelenting drive for service advancement. The cooperative advantage of all the Customs Units made up of the CIU, FOU, SIS, Valuation, ICT and other security agencies are well recognised.”
