The Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized assorted contraband items valued at over N55 million in just two weeks of operations.
The items, which include 34,850 litres of petrol loaded in 538 Jerry cans and 107 drums, were seized at various border checkpoints in the two states.
Other items seized by the command include 10 bags of 50kg parboiled foreign rice, 23,520 sachets of foreign vodka drink without NAFDAC certification, two DAF tankers used to convey the seized petrol, one Toyota Starlet car used to convey petrol in Jerry cans, and 493 50kg bags of dry NPK fertilizer.
Briefing newsmen on Friday at the Area Command Headquarters in Yola, the NCS Area Comptroller, Suleman Abdullahi, said the command is working with other security agencies in the area to curtail smuggling activities.
“Most times, the perpetrators of these crimes, upon seeing the superior power of the security agencies, run and abandon the goods and means of conveying them,” the NCS area controller said.
He added that since his assumption of office at the command on the 18th of last month, the command has recorded successes due to the synergy and gallantry of NCS operatives.
“Adamawa/Taraba and, of course, other northeast borders have been closed over the years, but unfortunately some unscrupulous and recalcitrant people are still making their way in and out of these closed borders,” he lamented.
Stressing that smuggling activities are inimical to the development of Nigeria, he asserted: “We have spread our tentacles to narrow down the smuggling activities in the states.”
He said the seized petrol has been auctioned off to the general public upon approval from the NCS headquarters in Abuja.