By
Fidelis Jockthan.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa and Taraba Area Command has recorded sixteen seizures of assorted items with Duty Paid Value of over Nineteen million naira.
The seized items include;200 pieces of raw Donkey skin,127 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice and 12,355 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) packed in Jerry cans.
The Customs Area Comproller of the Command,Salisu Abdullahi who disclosed this during a Press Conference said, the breakthrough was recorded through the uninterrupted combative patrol by the enforcement units of the Command, the Federal Operation Unit and Strong support by intelligence Unit at all nooks and crannies of the adjoining territorial boarders.
All the seized items have been auctioned and monies wee remitted accordingly into the coffers of the Federal Government.
He said the seizure of the Petroleum products is predicated on the contravention of section 246 of the new Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 couple with the closure of the territorial boarders of the Command while the exportation of Donkey skin falls under schedule 6 of common External Tariff 2022-2026 and section 150 of the new Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which is prohibited.
The Customs Area Comproller emphasized that the export prohibition is in tandem with the Federal Government’s policies for the protection of endangered species, protection of local economy and to promote the National Forest Policy which donkey is categorized as an endangered animal under Convention on international trade.
According to him, amidst the raid by the anti-smuggling operatives of the Command,none of the smugglers was arrested as they were either overrun,fled and abandoned the items.
He therefore called on good citizens, Stakeholders and relevant security agencies at the borderlines to collaborate with Customs in the fight against smuggling goods outside the country.
