From Umar Dankano, Yola
The Nigeria Customs Service has seized smuggled goods with duty paid value worth one Hundred and Twelve Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Thousand,Zero Kobo(N112,590,000.00k) across Adamawa/Taraba states.
Area Comptroller of the Command,Comp t.Garba Bature Bashir disclosed the hint at a press conference in Yola, the Adamawa capital on Wednesday stressing that the success was recorded as a result of the Command intensive and rigorous patrols across its frontiers on its anti-smuggling drive.
Comptroller Bashir explained that the command will not rest in giving unrepentant and unpatriotic economic saboteurs the harsh legal treatment,they deserve until they change for good in his command.
“It will interest you to know that the Command had recorded twenty-nine (29) instances of seizures with aggregate Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Hundred and Twelve Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Thousand, zero kobo (N112,590,000.00).
“These seizures were made within a period of six weeks of intensive and sleepless nights along different smuggling flashpoints at different time within the Command’s borderlines. These hotspots include- Mubi-Sahuda axis, Girei-Wuro Bokki axis, Jamtari-Farang/Belel axis, Wuro Alhaji, Damare bank, Gurin-Fufore axis and Yerima road in Gembu.
“The seized items include: 20,600Litres of PMS packed in 824 Jerry cans of 25 litres capacity each, 91 cartons of expired 50mg capsules of Tramadol,54 cartons of foreign soaps as well as 64 pieces of complete donkey skin intended to be smuggled out of the country”. Bashir remarked.
According to him,In a bid to safeguard the health of the citizens, national security and the economy, these expired 91 cartons of tramadol capsules were intercepted by the enforcement unit of the Command on Saturday, 30th August, 2025 at about 0800hrs in Mubi town in Adamawa following coordinated and intelligence driven operations.
He lamented that, God forbid, if these expired tramadol capsules were not withdrawn from circulations and are taken by innocent Nigerians, it could lead to high morbidity and mortality, human capital deterioration and unfair market competition.
“Additionally, the proliferation of these substances ignites drug abuse among youth, giving room for increased rates of violent crimes, aggression and social unrest. Seizing these expired and counterfeit substances is a gateway in combatting organized crime, disrupt smuggling networks and prevent the circulation of dangerous substances.
“These expired substances were seized in accordance with section 55 of Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and it shall be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
“Gentlemen of the press, these 64 complete raw donkey skins were seized on Tuesday, 30th September, 2025 by1130hrs at Damare river bank, Adamawa State by the enforcement unit of the Command following credible intelligence given by intelligent unit of the service.
“These raw donkey skin were seized as its exportation contravened schedule 6 (Export Prohibition List) of Common External Tariff (CET) and section 150 of Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
“The smugglers arranged these raw donkey skins in three (3) sacks and were hidden at the river bank awaiting for night to fall before ferrying it illegally through the waterways to the Republic of Cameroon
“This seizure is predicated on the facts that its importation falls under the import prohibited list- schedule le 3 (Common External Tariff, 2022-2026 serial no. 16) and equally contravened section 233 of the NCS Act 2023.
“These seized PMS shall be auction to the general public immediately after this press briefing due to its inflammable nature and in accordance with the standard Operating Procedure while the proceed will be remitted into the Federation Account accordingly”.The Comptroller highlighted.