The Adamawa and Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted petroleum products, donkey skins, expired Tramadol capsules, and foreign soaps valued at over ₦112.5 million in renewed efforts to curb smuggling along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.
Speaking during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Yola on Wednesday, the Comptroller of the Command, Garba Bashir, revealed that the seizures were made within six weeks and totaled 29 separate incidents, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦112,590,000.
According to him, the confiscated items include 20,600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) packed in 824 jerry cans of 25 litres each, 91 cartons of expired 50mg Tramadol capsules, 54 cartons of foreign soaps, and 64 complete donkey skins intended for illegal export.
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Bashir emphasized that the Customs Service is not only mandated to generate revenue but also to protect public health, national security, and the economy. He explained that the expired Tramadol was seized by the enforcement unit in Mubi, Adamawa State, on August 30, 2025, following intelligence-driven operations.
“Had these expired Tramadol capsules found their way into circulation, innocent Nigerians could have faced severe health consequences, including high morbidity, mortality, and human capital loss,” he said. “The proliferation of such substances fuels drug abuse, violent crimes, and social unrest.”
The Customs boss further disclosed that the seizure aligns with Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and that the expired drugs have been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) representative, Pharm. Gonzuk Bedima, for destruction.
On the donkey skins, Bashir noted that the 64 pieces were seized last month along the Damare riverbank in Adamawa, stressing that if the illicit slaughter and exportation of donkeys continue unchecked, the species risks extinction.
He added that the Command also intercepted 54 cartons of foreign soaps along the same riverbank in October 2025. The seized petroleum products, he said, will be auctioned publicly, with proceeds remitted to the federation account.
Bashir described the latest operation as a crucial step toward combating wildlife trafficking, public health threats, and economic sabotage.
