The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) continues its crackdown on illegal smuggling across the country with the seizure of 11,650 litres of petroleum motor spirits (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
Speaking at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, Comptroller of the command, Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, announced the recovery of additional items including 40 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 50 bales of secondhand clothing, 28 cartons of Diclofenac tablets (50mg), and 10 jerry cans of vegetable oil.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these seizures amounts to fourteen million, seven hundred and ninety-two thousand, four hundred naira.
Ojike also disclosed plans to auction the seized PMS, with an anticipated revenue of eight million, one hundred and seventy-eight thousand, one hundred eighty-three naira, which will be remitted to the Federal Government’s coffers.
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He highlighted the command’s recent performance, noting a significant increase in revenue generation to twenty-five million, eight hundred and forty-seven thousand, six hundred and eleven naira in June, marking a 67.6% rise compared to May.
Meanwhile, Comptroller of the National Coordinator Operation WHIRLWIND, Hussien Ejibunu, reported on separate operations in Birnin Kebbi, emphasizing the dismantling of smuggling networks across national borders.
He detailed the seizure of 661 kegs of PMS and fifteen drums totaling seventy-nine thousand five hundred litres, valued at fifty-five million seven hundred and twenty-nine thousand five hundred naira.
Ejibunu also announced the closure of a filling station pending further investigation by the regulatory agency NMDPRA.
He underscored the NCS’s commitment to combating economic sabotage and urged smugglers to engage in legitimate businesses, emphasizing ongoing coordination with regulatory authorities to curb diversion and ensure compliance in petroleum product distribution across the country.
