Adamawa/Taraba Customs Command Intercepts Raw Donkey Skin, 12,355 Litres Of PMS, others Worth N19M

Adamawa/Taraba Customs Command Intercepts Raw Donkey Skin, 12,355 Litres Of PMS, others Worth N19M

The Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa/Taraba Command has recorded 16 (sixteen) seizures of assorted items with the Duty Paid Value of Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Fifty-One naira and Seventy Kobo only (19,419,051.70).

This was revealed by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Salisu Abdullahi, at the monthly Press Briefing held on Thursday,14th September 2023, at the Command Headquarters.

According to Comptroller Abdullahi, a total of 200 pieces of raw donkey skin and means of conveyance (Mitsubishi canter) were seized by his operatives.

“The seizure of the donkey skin was specially affected jointly with Federal Operation Unit Zone D and the Customs Intelligence Unit.”

“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 specifically prohibited its exportation. The export prohibition is in tandem with the Federal Government’s policies for the protection of endangered species, protection of local economy, and promoting the National Forest Policy.”

“Donkey is categorised as an endangered animal under the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) to which Nigeria is a signatory.” The CAC quoted.

Other items seized were 127 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice and 12,355 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) packed in 448 x 25L and 33 x 35L Jerry Cans, respectively.

He said that due to the flammable nature of the PMS, most of it had been disposed of in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and the accrued proceeds remitted into the Federation Account.

“The seizure of the PMS is predicated on the contravention of section 246 of the new Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 coupled with the facts that the territorial borders of the Command remain officially closed.” He added.

Giving credence to the Operatives of the Command, Comptroller Abdullahi appreciated them for their unwavering support in ridding the state of prohibited items, “The Uninterrupted combative patrol by the enforcement units of the Command, the Federal Operation unit and the strong support of our intelligence unit (CIU) at all nooks and crannies and our adjoining territorial borders had yielded a huge success of the numerous seizures of items made so far.”

He beaconed on concerned citizens, stakeholders and all relevant Security Agencies at the borderlines to continue the inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service in the fight against the menace of smuggling as it is a continuous fight and must not be left for the Nigeria Customs Service alone.