The Adamawa and Taraba Customs Command has seized 240 drums of 220 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, worth over ₦72.6 million.
The seized petrol were to be ferried to Cameroon through the River Benue waterways where they were seized.
The command attributed the seizure to its ongoing efforts to sustain the economy and protect the nation’s territorial borders from illicit trans-border smuggling activities.
While briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Yola on Wednesday, Comptroller Garba Bashir issued a stern warning to smugglers, urging them to abandon the illegal trade.
He assured that under his watch, the Adamawa and Taraba Customs Command would be a no-go zone for smugglers.
“The operatives of the command have launched yet another heavy blow on the smugglers through shared intelligence, leverage of technology, and coordinated border management,” Bashir stated.
“We have started strangling the smugglers, and we will continue to strangle and suffocate them until smuggling activities are being purged out of the command,” he vowed.
He further disclosed that the operatives stormed the bank of River Benue at Jimeta Waterside, popularly called Bakin Kogi, at about 3:30 a.m. and discovered 240 drums of 220 litres each, which were well arranged and ready to be ferried through the waterways to Cameroon.
“To the smugglers and economic saboteurs, I encourage you to forsake illicit trade activities and embrace genuine business as Nigeria Customs Service is out to facilitate legitimate trade and ever ready to crack down on smuggling cartels for the nation’s economy to have fresh air,” he warned.
