The Nigeria Customs Service, Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, seized items valued at N71.7m between August and September from suspected smugglers, the Customs Area Comptroller, Mr Garba Bashir, has disclosed.

Bashir made this known in Yola, Adamawa State, on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the anti-smuggling drive of the command.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the seized items included 33,595 litres intended to be smuggled into the Republic of Cameroon.

Other items were three vehicles being used by the suspected smugglers, 200 bags of foreign flour, rice and 10 bales of second-hand clothing.

“The items will be auctioned to the general public immediately due to their inflammable nature,” Bashir said.

He charged the officers to be vigilant and remain fully committed to the ongoing fight against all forms of smuggling activities.

He also advised smugglers to understand that their activities were sabotaging economic development, as he urged them to embrace legitimate business.

“We will not relent in this fight against illegal trade until we bring smuggling activities to ground zero in Adamawa and Taraba states,” he said.

He solicited continued support from security agencies and concerned citizens by providing credible intelligence information regarding smuggling to the command.