By Joseph Adahnu, Yola
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Adamawa/Taraba states command has made a remarkable impacted for seized contraband goods of cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) over the tune of ₦362 million within six-week in anti-smuggling operation in Adamawa and Taraba states.
The Area Controller of Custom, Comtroller Mohammed Abdullahi Tako, made this known in a press briefing at the command House in Yola, that the seizures were made through intelligence- driven operations aimed at curbing illicit trade and protecting the nation’s economy.
Tako said the major interceptions involved a DAF low- bed trailer transporting a Sanny motor grader claimed being illegally exported to the Republic of Tchad. But the vehicle was intercepted on June 9 along the Gudusu- Belal route leading to the Republic of Cameroon.
He accordingly boosted that command recorded several seizures of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol at border communities. His officers confiscated 370 jerry-cans of PMS along the Goshindan-Belal axis on June 18. While June 29, another 308 jerry-cans of petrol and 64 pieces of raw donkey skin were intercepted around the Mubi-Sahuda route.
The operations also led to the seizure of 181 jerry-cans of PMS at the Pariya-Wuro Bokki axis on July 2 and another 144 jerry-cans alongside 220-litre drum of PMS at Maiha-Wuro Alhaji on July 15. So also on July 21, operatives intercepted nine kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, commonly called Indian hemp, along the Gurin-Turrah axis.
The Comtroller said a major operation was on July 23, Customs officers intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Yola-Numan Road conveying 220 kilograms of pangolin scales packed in three sacks, 48 ivory tusks weighing 74 kilograms concealed in two sacks and 534.55 kilograms of dried donkey meat. His men also recovered 64 pieces of complete raw donkey skin.
In an overview of the operations, Comptroller Tako said the command confiscated a total of 25,295 litres of PMS contained in 1,003 jerry-cans and one drum, nine kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, 220 kilograms of pangolin scales, 74 kilograms of ivory tusks, donkey skins, dried donkey meat and three vehicles, including a DAF truck, a Sanny motor grader and a Toyota Hiace bus.
During the operation he alleged that five suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and are currently undergoing investigation ahead of prosecution.
The Customs Area Controller said The operations were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the Common External Tariff Export Prohibition List and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Area Controller said.
It was on this note, he warned smuggling of petroleum products, endangered wildlife species and illicit drugs poses serious threats to national security, public health and economic stability.
And made it clear that, the confiscated donkey skins would be destroyed in collaboration with relevant government agencies in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, to prevent their re-entry into illegal trade.
Controller Tako lauded the effort of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, officers of the command, sister security agencies and the media for their continued support in fightimy against smuggling to it’s minimal level.
Officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) appreciate the Nigeria Customs Service for the successful operations, particularly the interception of endangered wildlife products.
NESREA called for stronger collaboration, stressing that they should be involved in future wildlife related seizures to ensure proper documentation, environmental compliance and greater accountability in the handling and disposal of confiscated items.
The contraband is a persistent challenge in the cross- border smuggling in Nigeria’s North-East, has attracted illegal movement of petroleum products.
