The newly deployed Customs Area Comptroller, Adamawa / Taraba Area Command, Salisu Kazaure Abdullahi, has declared total war on smugglers operating at the Cameroun Republic borders between the two states.
Abdullahi, who is barely three weeks in office, announced at a press conference, yesterday, that the command made seizures of goods worth over N55.317m Duty Paid Value (DPV) along the borders in Adamawa State.
He said that 34,850 litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was loaded in 538 Jerry cans of 25kg,107 litres in 200kg drums, one DAF truck conveying PMS ,one Toyota Starlet conveying PMS, one DAF truck conveying 493 bags of 50kg NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer.
Other items seized included, 23,520 sachets of foreign bulleit with volka without NAFDAC registration number imported into Nigeria.
“It is sad that in spite of the huge amount of subsidy paid by the Federal Government to make PMS available to citizens at a reduced price, some selfish and unethical citizens choose to divert the product to our neighbouring countries for their misery financial gains,” he said.
Abdullahi, who was visibly angry over the increased of activities of smugglers in the command, vowed that his men has been placed in strategic areas to monitor the activities of smugglers and apprehend them.
“It came to the notice of the customs headquarters that there has been an increasing smuggling of PMS and other petroleum products through these borders.We have vowed to apply adequate efforts and resources within the armpit of the law to stamping out these criminal activities in order to keep our country safe and healthy,” he stated.
He pointed out that the PMS was sold out to members of the public and the money remitted to the Federal Government account.
Abdullahi who commended the leadership of Nigeria customs under col.Hameed Ali ( RTD),urged other security sister agencies to collaborate with customs stamp out those sabotaging economy of the country.
