The Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted goods worth N22,894,723.007 from the 6th of May to the 17th of June 2023.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Salisu Abdullahi, disclosed this at a Press Briefing on Friday held in Customs House, Yola. He said the huge success recorded is predicated on the existing synergy and gallantry efforts of the operatives.
According to him, the Command recorded sixteen (16) seizures of assorted items which include: 494×50kg bags of dry blended NPK fertilizer, 14,980 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) packed in drums and Jerry Cans, 3 units of vehicles, 90x50kg bags of foreign parboiled Rice and 960 pieces of Foreign Soaps.
The Area Controller assured that “the seized PMS will be auctioned after the briefing.
However, due to the inflammable nature of Premium Motor Spirit, most of it had been disposed of in line with the standard Operating procedure (SOP) and the accrued proceeds were remitted into the Federation Account.
“It is evident that the smuggling of PMS had reduced drastically owing to the removal of the subsidy and the product is available in all filling stations. However, we will not relent on our anti-smuggling drive, ensuring that Adamawa and Taraba states will be zero tolerance for smuggling,” he added.
While responding to reasons for the apprehension of the smuggled fertilizer, Comptroller Abdullahi noted that “apprehension of dry blended NPK fertilizer is predicated on the restriction of movement of the product placed by the National Fertilizer Quality (control) Act, 2019 section 10 which restricts its movement, especially into the North-Eastern States.”
He reiterated his commitment to fighting and minimizing smuggling activities in Adamawa and Taraba States as well as its environs.
