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.
Tako said 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.
“The operatives also seized 25,295 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in 1,003 jerrycans and one 220 litre drum.
“The command intercepted a DAF low-bed truck conveying a Sanny motor grader allegedly being illegally exported to the Republic of Chad,” Tanko said.
According to him, officers also sezed nine kilogrammes of cannabis sativa and a Toyota Hiace bus used to convey some of the prohibited items.
He said the cumulative Duty Paid Value of all seized items was ₦362,204,543:91.
Tako said that five suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizures and after completion of its investigations would be prosecuted.
The comptroller further said that the operations were conducted under relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the Common External Tariff (CET) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
He warned smugglers to abandon illegal activities, stressing that the service would sustain efforts against petroleum smuggling, wildlife trafficking and other economic crimes.
Tako said the seized donkey skins would be destroyed immediately in collaboration with relevant agencies, in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while dismantling smuggling networks operating within Adamawa and Taraba states.
Tako commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, management of the service, sister security agencies and officers for their support and professionalism.
