The Adamawa and Taraba states command of the Nigerian Customs Service has seized petroleum products, donkey skins and Tramadol drugs with foreign soaps worth over N112.5 million.
This is in a renewed war against smuggling activities by the Command.
Briefing journalists on Wednesday at the command headquarters in Yola, the Comptroller Garba Bashir, said that the seizures were made at Nigeria’s border with Cameroon republic
“It will interest you to know that the Command had recorded twenty-nine (29) instances of seizures with aggregate Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Hundred and Twelve Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Thousand, zero kobo (N112,590,000.00)”, he said.
He explained that the seizures occurred within a period of six weeks.
“The seized items include: 20,600Litres of PMS (Popularly known as Petrol) packed in 824 Jerry cans of 25Litres capacity each. 91 cartons of expired 50mg capsules of Tramadol. 54 cartons of foreign soaps. And 64 pcs of complete donkey skin intended to be smuggled out of the country”, he added.
Bashir explained that the responsibilities of Nigerian Customs are not only to generate revenue, but to safeguard the health of the citizens, national security and the economy.
He pointed out that the expired 91 cartons of tramadol capsules were intercepted by the enforcement unit of the Command on Saturday, 30th August, 2025 in Mubi. Adamawa State is following coordinated and intelligence-driven operations.
“God forbid, if these expired tramadol capsules were not withdrawn from circulation and are taken by innocent Nigerians, it could lead to high morbidity and mortality, human capital deterioration and unfair market competition.
” Additionally, the proliferation of these substances ignites drug abuse among youth, giving room for increased rates of violent crimes, aggression and social unrest” he said.
He said that seizing the expired and counterfeit substances is a gateway in combating organised crime, disrupting smuggling networks and preventing the circulation of dangerous substances.
“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that over one million people globally die each year from consuming substandard or falsified medical products, with Africa bearing the most considerable impact.
“These expired substances were seized in accordance with section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and they shall be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),” he stated
On the 64 complete raw donkey skins, he disclosed that they were seized last month at the Damare river bank, Adamawa State by the enforcement unit of the Command.
He added, “The 64 seized complete raw donkey skin is translated into the killing of 64 donkeys. If this illicit slaughter and exportation of animal skin is not curtailed, donkeys and their likes will go into extinction.”
Bashir explained further that the Command’s Operatives also intercepted 54 Cartons of foreign soaps along the Damare River bank in October, 2025.
He said that the seized petroleum products will be auctioned to the public and the money will be paid into the federation account.
The expired drugs were handed over to the representative of NAFDAC Pharm. Gonzuk Bedima, for destruction.
This seizure directly addresses the problem of wildlife trafficking.
The seized items represent a triple threat: economic sabotage (petroleum and foreign soaps), public health crisis (expired drugs), and environmental/wildlife concerns (donkey skins).