Customs Intercepts Contraband Worth ₦79.8m In Adamawa, Seizes 16,825 Litres Of Petrol

By Samuel Egbewole

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, has recorded seizures of contraband with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦79.857 million in Adamawa State following five weeks of anti-smuggling operations across identified flashpoints.

The Comptroller of the Command, Mohammed Tako, disclosed this during a press briefing in Yola on Friday, attributing the operational successes to actionable intelligence and sustained tactical surveillance.

“Over the past five weeks, our officers, guided by actionable intelligence and continuous tactical surveillance, have executed a series of successful anti-smuggling operations across our Area of Responsibility,” Tako said.

He listed the seized items as 673 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), each containing 25 litres, bringing the total volume of petrol to 16,825 litres.

Other seized items included 501 cartons of foreign bar soaps, 266 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50 kilogrammes each, bales and five jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing.

The Command also intercepted a Mitsubishi Canter truck used to convey the contraband goods.

Tako said the seizures were made in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, specifically Sections 150, 233, 245, 246 and 248, alongside Schedule 3, which contains the Import Prohibition List under the Common External Tariff (CET).

He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, and the Service’s management team for providing the resources and logistical support required to sustain effective anti-smuggling operations.

The Comptroller also commended the officers involved in the operations for their efforts, while acknowledging the contributions of other stakeholders in the fight against economic sabotage.

He called on members of the public to regard security as a collective responsibility by providing timely and credible information about suspicious activities within their communities.

“Together, we can safeguard our borders and foster sustainable economic growth,” Tako said.