The Nigeria Customs Service’s Adamawa/Taraba Area Command has reported a significant seizure of goods valued at N71.7 million from suspected smugglers during August and September.
The PUNCH reported that this announcement was made by the Customs Area Comptroller, Mr. Garba Bashir, during a press briefing in Yola, Adamawa State, on Thursday, where he highlighted the command’s vigorous anti-smuggling efforts.
Among the confiscated items were 33,595 litres of petrol, which were reportedly destined for smuggling into the Republic of Cameroon.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of three vehicles used by the suspected smugglers, along with 200 bags of foreign flour, several bags of rice, and 10 bales of second-hand clothing.
Bashir emphasized the urgency of auctioning these items to the public due to their potentially hazardous nature.
“The items will be auctioned to the general public immediately due to their inflammable nature,” he stated.
In his remarks, he called upon his officers to maintain vigilance and dedication in the ongoing battle against smuggling activities.
Bashir urged smugglers to reconsider their actions, pointing out that their illegal activities undermine economic growth. He encouraged them to seek legitimate business opportunities instead.
“We will not relent in this fight against illegal trade until we bring smuggling activities to ground zero in Adamawa and Taraba states,” he declared.
He also sought the cooperation of other security agencies and the public, urging citizens to provide credible intelligence on smuggling activities to assist the command in its efforts.
