Customs area command Adamawa/Taraba Intercept 43,935 liters of PMS worth #36m in six weeks
Customs area command Adamawa/Taraba, Comptroller Garba Bature Bashir make it know to the journalist in his office on Friday July 12 2024 at Customs area command headquarters Yola that they intercept 43,935 Litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)packed in 1,071 x25L Jerry Cans and 85 x 200L drums.
Bashir said, I am glad to have you back to Customs House Yola, the Headquarters of Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, to brief you on the valiant efforts of our operatives in combating smuggling and unlawful trade practices along the command’s borderlines.
In furtherance of our core mandate that ranges from Revenue generation, trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling inter alia as stipulated in section 4 of NCS Act 2023, the Command has repositioned all machineries across its area of operation in collaboration with other sister agencies for effective border management. The Nigeria Customs Service is focused on growing economy by improving trade facilitation in Nigeria according to the global best practice. To uphold the mandate of the service, the Command Operatives have made a significant impact through their unwavering and collaborative efforts, with multiple seizures recorded hithertoOn Saturday 29th day of June, 2024 at about 2310hrs, the Command Operatives acting on shared intelligence from CIU stormed the bank of river Benue along Ribaddo-Farkumo axis and uncovered eighty-five (85×25L) drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the shore of river Benue where the smugglers had made all necessary arrangements to ferry the Product to the Republic of Cameroon illegally. With the swift intervention ofthe Officers, the illicit trade arrangements of these economic saboteurs were averted while the smugglers on sighting the officers took to their heels and abandoned the PMS. In the same vein, seven hundred and ninety- five (795×25L) Jerry Cans of PMS were unearthed ni a bush path at Sahuda, Nigera- Cameroon border by the unrelenting and uncompromising efforts of our operatives at the early hours of Saturday, 6″ July, 2024. Still on the anti-smuggling drive of the command, a Carina E with a hidden compartment loaded with PMS was intercepted following credible information along Girei-Wuro Boki axis on Saturday, 6″ July, 2024 at about 1100hrs and other numerous records o f successful operations across the Command’s frontiers. We remain committed to sustaining this momentum. This PMS wil be auctioned as soon as possible after this briefing due ot its inflammable nature in line with the standard operating procedure and the accrued proceeds will be remitted into the Federation account ni like fashion, as we had with a fraction of it.
The Command recorded seventeen (17) cases of seizures of various items during the period under consideration (6 weeks after the last press briefing) with aggregate Duty Paid Value (DPV) of thirty-six million, nine hundred and fifty-two thousand, three hundred and forty-two naira fifty kobo only (N36,952,342.50). The seized goods comprise the following:
.i 43,935 Litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)packed in 1,071 x25L Jerry Cans and 85 x 200L drums.
ii. one used Tricycle
i. one used Motorcycle and
iv. Two used vehicles with one having a hidden compartment, the means of conveyance of some ofthe seized PMS.
In spite of the PMS subsidy repeal, smuggling from Nigeria into the neighbouring countries still flourishes. This is due to strong fuel demand and steeper prices in adjacent countries such as Cameroon, Niger and Benin Republic. This continued demand creates a lucrative market for illegal exports of this product to these
countries by selfish Nigerians to fill the supply gaps for personal gain.
The fuel smuggling cartels are remarkably resilient and well-resourced, robust intelligence gathering and distribution channels, driven by lucrative illegal profits. These economic saboteurs are prepared todowhatever it takes to maintain their hold. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service, most especially Adamawa/Taraba Area Command has been diligently reviewing and strengthening its robust measures to combat this illicit trade. We want to make it clear to the smugglers that we will counter every move they make and we wil not relent ni this anti-smuggling crusade until we bring smuggling activities to ground zero in Adamawa and Taraba States.
These significant achievements are attributed to the unwavering backing and encouragement of Nigeria Customs Service Management under the leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR who has consistently provided all necessary resources and support for our seamless anti-smugglingoperations.We genuinely acknowledge his unflinching dedication to advancing the service. The collaborative synergy of all the Customs Units comprising the CIU, North-Eastern Marine, FOU, SIS, Operation Whirlwind, Valuation, ICT and other security agencies must also be reckoned with.
To the general public, we urge you to support our efforts and report any suspicious activities timely as this fight is not one-man business. The Gentlemen of the press, we seek your unalloyed support in this anti-smuggling crusade of the service by enlighten the populace on the ills of smuggling on the nation’s economy and security. Together, we can combat smuggling and promote economic growth. Thank you and I wish you all safe returns to your various offices.
