From Umar Dankano, Yola.
The Adamawa/Taraba state Custom Area command has seized 32,860 litres of smuggled petroleum motor spirit (PMS) packed in 1,288 Jerry cans of 25 litres capacity and 2,800 litres of AGO packed in 112 Jerry cans worth N98,375,325 Million.
Area Comptroller Mohammed Tanko made the disclosure at a press briefing in Yola on Wednesday stressing that, the achievements recorded were based on intelligence led operations conducted by the command’s operatives in different locations within the command.
Tanko explained that, the command in the last six months incepted petroleum products including PMS and AGO, second hand clothes,raw donkey skin and dried donkey meat plus unregistered medicaments which were meant to be smuggled out of the country through Cameroonian borders.
He said that the seizures were made in likitaba-Gembu in Taraba state and in Maiha-bellel road and sahuda border axis in Mubi of Adamawa state respectively.
“In total 1,288 Jerry Cans and 3 drums containing approximately 32,860 litres of PMS alongside 2,800 litres of AGO packed in 112 Jerry Cans of 25litres capacity and other items listed above were seized with aggregate Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N98,375,325.00 (Ninety-eight Million, three hundred and seventy-five thousand, three hundred and twenty-five naira only).
“A comprehensive update on our recent interceptions of Petroleum products (PMS and AGO), secondhand clothing, raw donkey skin and dried donkey meat plus unregistered medicaments recorded by the Command within the period of six (6) weeks in the course of discharging our statutory responsibilities to curb smuggling and protect the Nigerian economy.
“During separate intelligence-led operations conducted on different locations, dates and time within our Area of responsibility, Operatives of the Command had recorded the seizures
“These seizures were carried out pursuant to the provisions of sections 150, 245 and 246 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and schedule 6 (Export Prohibition List) of Common External Tariff (CET). Section 150 of Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 empowers the service to prevent the illegal exportation of PMS and the raw donkey skin plus the meat out of the Country.
“To the smugglers and the economic saboteurs, I encourage you to forsake illicit trade activities and embrace genuine business as Nigeria Customs service is out to facilitate legitimate trade and ever ready to crack down smuggling cartels with in the confines of the law.
