From Joseph Adahnu, Yola
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, has intercepted contraband goods with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV), of ₦362 million in six weeks of intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations.
The Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Tako, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Yola.
He said the seizures were part of efforts to curb illicit trade, protect the nation’s economy, and safeguard endangered wildlife.
Tako said the most significant interception involved a DAF low-bed trailer conveying a SANY motor grader allegedly being smuggled out to the Republic of Chad. The vehicle was intercepted on June 9th, along the Gudusu-Belwa route, leading to the Republic of Cameroon.
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The Command also recorded multiple seizures of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), at border communities: 370 jerry-cans of PMS along the Goshindan-Belwa axis on June 18th, 308 jerry-cans of PMS and 64 pieces of raw donkey skin around the Mubi-Sahuda rroute on June 29th, 181 jerry-cans of PMS at Pariya-Wuro Bokki, on July 2nd and 144 jerry-cans and one 220-litre drum of PMS at Maiha-Wuro Alhaji on July 15th.
On July 21, operatives also intercepted 9kg of Cannabis Sativa, commonly called Indian hemp, along the Gurin-Turra axis.
In a major operation on July 23, officers intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Yola-Numan Road conveying 220kg of pangolin scales packed in three sacks, 48 pieces of ivory tusks weighing 74kg concealed in two sacks, and 534.55kg of dried donkey meat. The team also recovered 64 pieces of complete raw donkey skin.
In total, the Command seized 25,295 litres of PMS contained in 1,003 jerry-cans and one drum, 9kg of Cannabis Sativa, 220kg of pangolin scales, 74kg of ivory tusks, donkey skins, dried donkey meat, and three vehicles— a DAF truck, a SANY motor grader, and a Toyota Hiace bus.
Tako said five suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and are undergoing investigation ahead of prosecution.
The Controller said the operations were carried out under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the Common External Tariff Export Prohibition List, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES.
He warned that smuggling of petroleum products, endangered wildlife species, and illicit drugs poses serious threats to national security, public health, and economic stability.
He added that the confiscated donkey skins would be destroyed in collaboration with relevant government agencies in line with the NCS Act, 2023, to prevent their re-entry into illegal trade.
Tako lauded the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, officers of the Command, sister security agencies, and the media for their support in the fight against smuggling.
Officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), also commended the Customs for intercepting endangered wildlife products.
NESREA called for stronger collaboration and urged to be involved in future wildlife-related seizures to ensure proper documentation, environmental compliance, and accountability in the handling and disposal of confiscated items.
