The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 33,595 litres of petrol allegedly intended for smuggling into Cameroon.
The Adamawa/Taraba Area Command disclosed the seizure, which took place between August and September 2024, during a press briefing in Yola on Thursday, October 24.
According to Garba Bashir, the Area Comptroller of the Adamawa/Taraba NCS Command, the smuggled petrol was packed in 1,115 jerry cans (25 litres each), and 26 drums (220 litres each), and its estimated market value exceeded N71 million.
“These illegal operations were foiled at different borderlines within Adamawa and Taraba states,” Bashir said.
He further explained that the seized petrol would be auctioned to the public in line with NCS regulations.
“This seizure represents our continuous efforts to combat smuggling activities, especially the illegal movement of petroleum products,” Bashir added.
In addition to the petrol, customs officers also confiscated three vehicles used for transporting the fuel: 200 bags of foreign flour, 57 bags of parboiled rice, and 10 bales of second-hand clothes. Bashir emphasised that these items were similarly intercepted from suspected regional smugglers.
The NCS continues to intensify border patrols to curb illicit trade, particularly in fuel smuggling, which undermines Nigeria’s economy and fuels cross-border crimes.
The Adamawa/Taraba Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders from illegal trading activities.
