By Bon Peters
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has auctioned petroleum products and cooking oil with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦26.53 million after the items were confiscated during anti-smuggling operations in its area of responsibility.
The public auction, conducted at the Command’s Oron Outstation in Akwa Ibom State, followed the provisions of Section 119 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which authorises the disposal of seized, forfeited and abandoned goods after the completion of due legal processes.
Items auctioned included 14,720 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 14,200 litres of industrial palm oil, 600 litres of edible palm oil and 125 litres of vegetable oil.
According to the Command, the seized petrol had a Duty Paid Value of ₦11.44 million, while the industrial palm oil was valued at ₦14.11 million. The edible palm oil and vegetable oil were valued at ₦840,000 and ₦141,000 respectively, bringing the total value of the auctioned items to ₦26.53 million.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Joshua Iliya, said in a statement that the products were intercepted during separate anti-smuggling operations before they were forfeited in line with the provisions of the law.
Speaking at the exercise, the Acting Comptroller of the Eastern Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller Esien Etim Esiet, described smuggling as a major threat to the nation’s economy, noting that it undermines legitimate businesses, affects local industries and deprives government of much-needed revenue.
Esiet said the public auction was conducted in accordance with the law and designed to ensure openness and equal participation by qualified bidders.
He commended officers of the Command for their efforts in securing the nation’s maritime borders despite operational challenges and reaffirmed the Service’s determination to sustain its campaign against smuggling and other forms of cross-border crimes.
The acting comptroller also acknowledged the support of other security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and the media in the fight against economic sabotage, urging maritime operators and members of the public to comply with customs regulations and support ongoing efforts to protect Nigeria’s economic interests.
