The Nigeria Customs Service, specifically the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, has reported significant seizures of assorted contrabands valued at over N13 million.
During a press briefing held on Friday, February 24, 2024, in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Salisu Abdullahi, disclosed this information.
According to Abdullahi, the Command has encountered fifteen incidents resulting in seizures of various contrabands, amounting to a Cumulative Duty Paid Value (DV) of the sum of N13,352,100.00.
In a post shared on the verified Nigeria Custom X handle, it was stated that the confiscated items encompass 16,675 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) packaged in 643×25L Jerry Cans and 3 200L drums, 20× 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, and one used Volkswagen Golf with a large reconstructed fuel tank.
This seizure underscores the ongoing efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service to curb illegal activities and enforce compliance with regulations in the region.
As noted by the CAC, “the Command has been battling to crack down on the smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.”
Comptroller Abdullahi said, “In the last two weeks, we made seizures of 245 Jerry Cans of 25 litres each of this petrol on its way to Cameroon.
“These 245 Jerry Cans too will be auctioned immediately in accordance with provision of section 246 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the proceeds accrued remitted into the Federation Account.”
He observed that even with the elimination of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), “it is evident that the smuggling of the product from Nigeria to some other African countries persists.”
Comptroller Abdullahi disclosed that prior to the conclusion of last year, the Command exhibited foreign fruit juices and alcoholic beverages containing vodka, which were expired and lacked registration, and were subsequently confiscated by Command officers.
“In view of this, the Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service directed us to destroy these items in collaboration with NAFDAC officials here present and that will be done immediately after this briefing.”
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The Customs Area Comptroller affirmed that the Command, working alongside other related agencies, will persistently combat the smuggling contrabands until it is completely eradicated.
“We want to unequivocally tell the smugglers that the more they change tactics, the more we change our own and God willing, the truth will always prevail over falsehood,” he concluded.
