Customs Seizes N79.8m Contraband in Adamawa

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, has intercepted contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N79.857 million during five weeks of anti-smuggling operations in Adamawa.

The Comptroller of the Command, Mr Mohammed Tako, disclosed this at a press briefing in Yola on Friday.

Tako said the seizures resulted from intelligence-led operations and sustained tactical surveillance across identified smuggling flashpoints within the command’s area of responsibility.

He listed the seized items as 673 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), containing 16,825 litres in total, 501 cartons of foreign bar soaps and 266 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each.

Other items intercepted were bales and five jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, as well as a Mitsubishi Canter truck allegedly used to convey the contraband goods.

According to him, the seizures were made in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, particularly Sections 150, 233, 245, 246 and 248, and Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff’s Import Prohibition List.

The comptroller attributed the success of the operations to the commitment of officers and the deployment of actionable intelligence to tackle smuggling activities.

He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, and the service’s management for providing the resources and logistical support required for effective operations.

Tako also commended the officers involved in the interceptions and other stakeholders for their continued efforts to combat economic sabotage.

He urged members of the public to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information about suspicious activities in their communities.

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