Yola: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, has intercepted the smuggling abroad of endangered wildlife products and petrol worth ?362.2 million during anti-smuggling operations. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Tako, disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference in Yola.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the seizures resulted from intelligence-led operations across strategic routes within the command in the past six weeks aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and combating cross-border smuggling. The command intercepted 64 raw donkey skins, 534.55 kilogrammes of dried donkey meat, 220 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, and 74 kilogrammes of ivory tusks. Additionally, operatives seized 25,295 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in 1,003 jerrycans and one 220-litre drum. A DAF low-bed truck conveying a Sanny motor grader allegedly being illegally exported to the Republic of Chad was also intercepted.
Officers also seized nine kilogrammes of cannabis sativa and a Toyota Hiace bus used to convey some of the prohibited items. The cumulative Duty Paid Value of all seized items was ?362,204,543.91. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and, upon completion of investigations, will be prosecuted.
The operations were conducted under relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the Common External Tariff (CET), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Tako warned smugglers to abandon illegal activities, emphasizing that the service would sustain efforts against petroleum smuggling, wildlife trafficking, and other economic crimes.
The seized donkey skins will be destroyed immediately in collaboration with relevant agencies, in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. Tako reaffirmed the command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while dismantling smuggling networks operating within Adamawa and Taraba states. He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, the management of the service, sister security agencies, and officers for their support and professionalism.