The Nigeria Customs Service has announced that it seized petroleum products and other smuggled goods worth N195.7 million in Adamawa and Taraba states within four months.
The Customs Comptroller in charge of the two states, Garba Bashir, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Yola.
Bashir said his command is committed to ending illegal smuggling activities in the region, especially the smuggling of fuel across borders.
“This is a critical period of our national life and all hands must be on deck to support the government because we cannot afford to get it wrong at this point in time of our national history,” he said.
He explained that the smuggling of petroleum products is harming the economy and causing hardship for Nigerians.
“This illicit trade weakens our fuel supply chain and poses a direct challenge to our national security,” he added.
Bashir stressed that some people are trying to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms by smuggling fuel meant for Nigerians into neighbouring countries.
“These unpatriotic elements are motivated by selfish profit and continue to carry out complex smuggling operations that attack our economy,” he said.
He added that several vehicles, including tankers and trailers used to carry fuel and other illegal items like elephant tusks and alcoholic products, were seized during this period.
For the first time in the command’s history, the suspects involved are now being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Yola.
Bashir promised that more action would be taken.
“Let it be clearly understood that the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute and unshakeable in its mandate to protect our national economy and maintain the integrity of our borders,” he said.
“We will keep using more resources and tougher measures to make sure smugglers have nowhere to hide in this command,” he added.
