The Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa/Taraba Command, has made significant seizures in its ongoing anti-smuggling operations, intercepting contraband goods worth tens of millions of naira. The command confiscated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, valued at over N58 million, along with a large quantity of used clothing intended for illegal cross-border trade.
Major Seizures in Border Crackdown
Area Controller Muhammed Aminu Mako, representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, announced the seizures during a briefing at the Customs House in Yola on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The operations, which spanned four weeks, led to the interception of the items at various border locations within the two states.
The seized items include:
- 1,868 jerry cans of 25 and 30 litres capacity filled with PMS.
- A large drum containing approximately 50,495 litres of petrol.
- 10 bales and two sacks of second-hand clothing, also known as ‘okrika’.
The total value of the confiscated petrol alone is N58,117,550. Mako stated that the items were intercepted while officers were performing their statutory duties to curb smuggling and protect the national economy.
Legal Backing and Final Warning to Smugglers
The Area Controller emphasized that the operations were conducted under the authority of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. He specifically cited sections 150, 245, and 246 of the Act, which empower officers to prevent the illegal exportation of PMS and other restricted goods.
“Section 245 grants officers the powers to detain, seize and condemn smuggled goods, while Section 246 deals with the forfeiture of smuggled items, including petroleum products moved contrary to existing laws,” Mako explained.
Issuing a stern “final warning” to smugglers and their accomplices, Mako declared that the service has intensified intelligence-led operations across all known routes and border communities. He warned that anyone caught engaging in smuggling activities would face the full wrath of the law.
Collaboration and Next Steps
Mako commended the collaboration of sister security agencies in the fight against the illegal exportation of petroleum products and other Nigerian goods. He affirmed the command's unwavering commitment to its anti-smuggling drive as a critical measure to safeguard the nation's economy.
Regarding the disposal of the seized items, the controller announced that the confiscated Premium Motor Spirit would be auctioned to the Nigerian public through the appropriate legal channels. This move is part of standard procedure to ensure that the seized products do not find their way back to the black market.
The recent bust underscores the continued vigilance of the Nigeria Customs Service along the nation's borders, particularly in the northeastern region, as it works to stem the tide of economic sabotage.
