Customs seize smuggled petrol at Nigeria-Cameroon border
Customs seize smuggled petrol at Nigeria-Cameroon border
The Adamawa and Taraba states Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service have made a huge breakthrough, as it uncovered and seized 85 drums of 200litres and 795 jerry cans of 25litres of premium motor spirit at Sahuda village along the Nigeria-cameroon border.
While briefing journalists on Friday, the Customs Area Controller Garba Bashir, disclosed that the smugglers had concluded arrangements to ferry the products to the Republic of Cameroon, when his men, acting on intelligence reports invaded the area.
Bashir explained, “With the swift intervention of the officers, the illicit trade arrangements of these economic saboteurs were averted while the smugglers on sighting the officers took to their heels and abandoned the PMS,” he said.
The Customs Controller further disclosed that the Command has repositioned all machineries across its areas of operations in collaboration with other sister security agencies for effective border management.
He assured that the NCS is focused on growing the country’s economy by improving trade facilitation in Nigeria according to the global best practices.
“The core mandate of Nigeria Customs Service ranges from revenue generation, trade facilitation, and suppression of smuggling as stipulated in section 4 of NCS Act 2023.” he stated.
The controller stressed, “In spite of the PMS subsidy repeal, smuggling from Nigeria into neighbouring countries still flourishes.
“This is due to strong fuel demand and steeper prices in adjacent countries such as cameroon, Niger and Benin Republic. This continued demand creates a lucrative market for illegal exports of this product to these countries by selfish Nigerians to fill the supply gaps for personal gain.”
Bashir also pointed out that the Nigeria Customs Service Adamawa and Taraba states Command is diligently reviewing and strengthening its robust measures to combat the illicit trade in the area.
“We want to make it clear to the smugglers that we will counter every move they make and we will not relent in this anti-smuggling crusade until we bring smuggling activities to ground zero in Adamawa and Taraba states,” he insisted.
The NCS boss noted that the recent visit to the command by the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has boosted the morale of the officers.
He urged members of the public to always draw the attention of the Command to any suspected move by trans-border businessmen and women.
This he said would help to develop the economy of the country.
