Customs seize smuggled petroleum products in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

In its continued strategic fight against smuggling activities, Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service has recorded seventeenth (17) seizures of various items with aggregate Duty paid value (DPV) of N36,952,342.50.
Area Comptroller of the command, Comptroller Garba Bature Bashir made the disclosure at a media interaction in Yola Friday stressing that the operatives of the command based on intelligence report intercepted 43,935 litres of premium motor spirit, PMS packaged in 1,071 × 25 Litres Jerry cans, 85 × 200 litres drums, One tricycle and two (2) used vehicles with constructed hidden compartments means of illegal conveyance of petroleum products.
Comptroller Bashir said on the 29th June 2024 based on shared intelligence from CIU stormed the bank of River Benue along Ribaddo-Farkumo axis and seized 85 drums of PMS from smugglers making arrangements to ferry out the product illegally to Republic of Cameroon.
Bashir stated that on the 6th July 2024 ,another 795 litres concealed in 25 litres Jerry cans were unearthed in a bush path at Sahuda boarder in Mubi South local government area in Adamawa state heading to neighbouring Cameroon Republic were also seized by the customs operatives on patrol.
He added that on same date (6th July 2024), a Carina E’ with hidden constructed compartment loaded with PMS was intercepted along Girei -Wuro Boki axis in Adamawa.
He warned the unrepentant smugglers to desist from smuggling activities saying that, his command has repositioned all its machineries across its area of operation in collaboration with other sister agencies for effective border management.
On the allegation that some bad men and officers of Customs Service are allegedly conniving with smugglers to perpetrate economy sabotage, Compt. Bashir vehemently denied the claim insisting that since his assumption as the Area comptroller of the command, no such abnormally came to his knowledge.
Bashir vowed that any smuggling activities in any form will not be tolerated by his command lamenting that the smuggling cartels are remarkably resilient and well-resourced,robust intelligence gathering and distribution channels, driven by lucrative illegal profits.
“We want to make it clear to the smugglers that we will counter every move they make and we will not relent in this anti-smuggling crusade until we bring smuggling activities to ground zero in Adamawa and Taraba states.
“To the general public,we urge you to support our efforts and report any suspicious activities timely as this fight is not one-man business”, Bashir added.