Adamawa/ Taraba Customs Command Stuns Smugglers,Seizes  N10.8m Smuggled PMS

Adamawa/ Taraba Customs Command Stuns Smugglers,Seizes  N10.8m Smuggled PMS
……..vows to increase anti smuggling operations

By Frank Odinukaeze

The Nigeria Customs Service,Adamawa/Taraba Customs Command,has recorded an impressive seizures of 12435 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS),popularly called  Fuel ,valued at ten million, eight hundred and seventy-one thousand, four hundred and ninety-six naira and twenty-five Kobo only (N10,871,496.25) as the Duty Paid Value (DPV).
Briefing news men on Friday,10 May ,2024,at the Command’s Headquarters in Yola,on the seizures ,the Adamawa/ Taraba Area controller, Comptroller Garba Bature Bashir attributed the  success recorded so far by his command to the synergy, robust border management, intelligence sharing and unwavering efforts of the  command’s operatives.

Comptroller Garba noted that his anti Smuggling drive since he took over has yeilded impressive results

He said  the Command Officers while on anti-smuggling operations along the Command frontiers within the period of two weeks under his  leadership had  recorde five (05) incidents of interception of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) being taken  to the neighburing Cameron  Republic.
His words,”The intercepted and seized PMS plus the Means of Conveyance hereinafter are Valued at Ten   Million, eight hundred and seventy-one thousand, four hundred and ninety-six naira and twenty-five Kobo only (N10,871,496.25) as the Duty Paid Value (DPV)” . He noted that during the Operations, no suspect was apprehended, as they abandoned the items and absconded in an attempt to evade arrest.”
The seized items include the following:
i.​12,435Litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) packed in 491x25L and 8 x 20L Jerry Cans.

ii.​one used Mitsubishi truck -Means of conveyance of the PMS and
iii.​One used Motor Cycle – the Means of Conveyance of the PMS.
“The seizure of these items are in line with sections 150 and 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and considering the facts that the Command’s territorial borders are officially closed. However, due to the inflammable nature of these PMS, it will be auctioned immediately after this briefing in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) and as enshrined in section 119 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the proceeds accrued remitted into the Federation Account accordingly” Comptroller Garba said.

He added that “Smuggling activities had done more harm than good to the nation. It hinders national growth, strangles  trade policies with regards to revenue, foreign investment, preservation of domestic trade and growth, food security and public security. Smuggling networks are often connected to diverse illicit activities, such as money laundering, terrorism financing and human trafficking, which can disrupt national security and the rule of law.”

Comptroller Garba warned  that the Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa/Taraba Area Command  will never give up in its fight against the menace of smuggling until the command is purged of it.
” We want to unwaveringly tell the smugglers that our operatives are strategically positioned
along the borderlines to fasten their exit out of this illicit business. We advised you renounce economic sabotage and illicit trade in and out of the Command’s territorial borders and adopt legitimate business as the Command’s Operatives will not rest on their oars until we stamp out smuggling across all the command borders “Comptroller Garba  affirmed.

He enjoined the border communities and other stakeholders including the media to give their cooperation and support towards stamping out smuggling within  the Command’s border territory.

He attributed the  huge successes recorded by the command to the  unwavering support and encouragement of the management of the  “Nigeria Customs Service under the tenacious leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR who has continued to give all the required backup and supply chain for our smooth anti-smuggling operations. We wholeheartedly appreciate his unrelenting drive for service advancement. The cooperative advantage of all the Customs Units and other security agencies are well recognised.” he said.