By Atoyebi Nike
The Adamawa and Taraba States Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized petroleum products, expired Tramadol drugs, foreign soaps, and donkey skins valued at over ₦112.5 million.
Comptroller Garba Bashir disclosed this on Wednesday at the Command’s headquarters in Yola, noting that the seizures were made within six weeks along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.
According to him, the Command recorded 29 seizures with a total Duty Paid Value of ₦112,590,000. Items recovered include 20,600 litres of petrol packed in 824 jerry cans, 91 cartons of expired 50mg Tramadol capsules, 54 cartons of foreign soaps, and 64 complete donkey skins intended for illegal export.
Bashir warned that the circulation of expired drugs poses severe health risks, citing WHO data that over one million people die globally each year from consuming substandard medical products. The drugs were seized in Mubi on August 30 through intelligence-led operations and have been handed over to NAFDAC for destruction.
He also condemned the illegal slaughter of donkeys, saying the 64 seized skins translate to the killing of 64 animals a practice that threatens species survival.
The seized petrol will be auctioned, with proceeds paid into the federation account. Bashir stressed that the operation reflects Customs’ broader mandate to protect public health, national security, and the economy.
