From Umar Dankano,Yola.
The federal operations unit, Zone ‘D’ of the Nigeria Customs service Command Bauchi has made seizure of 17,580 litres of smuggled petroleum motor spirit and (PMS) worth N12,750,422,40.in the zone.
Comptroller Odaudu Adah Salefu made the disclosure Monday in Yola,Adamawa state capital at a media briefing on the anti-smuggling activities in the zone stressing that the customs operatives seized 678 Jerry cans PMS and two(2) drums of PMS(2×250L) totally 17,580 litres.
Salefu stated that the cumulative duty paid value of the seized products stand at fourteen million,two hundred and fifty-two thousand,one hundred and ninety eight Naira,sixty five Kobo (N14,252,198.65) including the means of conveyance.
Comptroller Salefu maintained that the seizures showcased were achieved as a result of robust information gathering and credible intelligence sharing by other units of the service including C.I.U, Customs police and resilient patrol of FOU Zone ‘D’.
He warned unrepentant smugglers to desist from the illegal practice or risk to face the wrath of law if caught noting that smuggling activities are sabatoers to the nation’s economy.
He also called on teeming Nigerians to support and cooperate with the Customs service in safeguarding the economic development of the country noting that fighting smuggling activities is a collective responsibility.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to patriotic citizens and the need to provide credible information’s to the service in order to curb the menace of these unscrupulous smugglers who are bent on crippling the economy of this great nation”.He stressed
Comptroller Salefu appeal to Federal government to provide more manpower especially at the junior cadre and more logistics for additional effectiveness and efficient service delivery.
He added that, the operational achievements in the zone were recorded majorly from the 19th of April to 19th of May 2024 under his leadership manning the nine(9) states in the zone including Plateau,Nassarawa,Taraba,Borno,Benue,Yobe, Gombe Adamawa and Bauchi states.