In a robust crackdown on fuel smuggling, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized a substantial quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, totaling over 57,000 litres in Adamawa and Taraba states. This operation reflects the NCS's intensified efforts to combat illicit activities that undermine the nation's economy.
Comptroller Garba Bashir Bature, leading the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, disclosed that the seized petrol, valued at approximately ₦71.7 million, was intercepted at various border points within the two states. The confiscated items included 33,595 litres of petrol, 200 bags of foreign flour, 57 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 10 bales of second-hand clothing, and three vehicles used for transporting the smuggled goods.
The petrol was reportedly packaged in 1,115 jerry cans and 26 drums, intended for smuggling into neighboring Cameroon. This seizure underscores the persistent challenges faced by authorities in curbing cross-border smuggling activities.
Comptroller Bature attributed the success of the operation to the relentless efforts of his team and emphasized that the seized goods would be auctioned to the public, with proceeds remitted to the federation account, in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. He further urged his officers to remain vigilant and committed to combating smuggling within the legal framework, advising smugglers to abandon illicit activities in favor of legitimate business endeavors.