Customs arrest six suspects, seize smuggled goods worth over N1bn

By Bashir Bello

The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has arrested six suspects and seized suspected smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of more than N1 billion.

The Acting Area Controller, Usman Adamu, disclosed this while handing over some of the seized items to relevant agencies. The items included undeclared foreign currencies handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pharmaceutical products transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and wildlife specimens handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Adamu said the seizures were made between January 1 and March 10, 2026, following intelligence-led operations, coordinated patrols and surveillance along key routes and border corridors in Kano and Jigawa states.

According to him, the operations led to several interceptions of items suspected to have been brought into the country in violation of import regulations. He added that the suspects arrested in connection with the seizures are currently under investigation.

Among the items intercepted were undeclared foreign currencies at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on January 5, 2026. The currencies included 106,500 US dollars, 134,256 Saudi riyals, 28 Chinese yuan and 20 Ghanaian cedis.

Adamu also said that on January 14, 2026, operatives intercepted 1,447 used pneumatic tyres along the Yan Awaki Eastern Bypass in Kano, with a DPV estimated at N28.2 million.

He further disclosed that on January 20 and 22, the command intercepted two Dong Feng vehicles along the Kano–Hadejia and Maiduguri roads. The vehicles had a combined DPV of about N97.7 million, while one of them was found to contain six silver metal bars weighing about 12.2 kilograms with an estimated value of N61 million.

In another case, he said an outbound passenger was intercepted on February 18 with silver metal bars weighing 22.8 kilograms concealed in baggage without the required declaration or export documentation. The passenger and the items were subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.

The command also intercepted a bus along the Babura axis of Jigawa State carrying 35 bales of second-hand clothing and 10 kegs of refined vegetable oil, with a combined DPV estimated at over N17 million.

Similarly, a Howo truck carrying 2,765 cartons of imported spaghetti, listed under the import prohibition schedule, was intercepted along the Ajiri Village axis in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State.

Adamu said operatives also intercepted 503 master cartons of Pregabalin capsules at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company terminal of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The products, valued at about N729.9 million, were described as pharmaceutical items without registration from NAFDAC and have been handed over to the agency for further examination.

He added that customs officers also intercepted two cows suspected to be stolen along Gezawa Road in Kano. Two suspects arrested in connection with the incident were handed over to the police for investigation.

In addition, the command intercepted wildlife specimens, including a live lion cub in Kano metropolis and pangolins at different locations in the state. The suspects and the wildlife were handed over to NESREA for further action in line with regulations governing the protection of endangered species.

Adamu said that in total, the command recorded seizures involving nine categories of items with a combined DPV of about N1.018 billion within the period under review.

He warned individuals involved in smuggling to desist, stressing that the command remains committed to enforcing the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other relevant regulations.

Speaking while receiving the seized pharmaceutical products, Director-General of NAFDAC, Moji Adeyeye, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, commended customs officials for the interception.

He noted that the agency would investigate the products and take appropriate action in accordance with existing regulations.

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