By Salejo Kano (Kano State Correspondent)
The Kano–Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized smuggled goods valued at over ₦1.01 billion in a series of anti-smuggling operations conducted between January 1 and March 10, 2026.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, disclosed this during his maiden press briefing at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano.
Adamu explained that the seizures were made possible through intelligence-driven operations, coordinated patrols, and strategic surveillance along major border routes within Kano and Jigawa states, in collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies.
He said the command recorded detentions and seizures of nine major items with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1,018,971,728.02.
Among the major interceptions was the seizure of undeclared foreign currencies at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on January 5.
"The currencies included 106,500 US dollars, 134,256 Saudi Riyals, 28 Chinese Yuan, and 20 Ghana Cedis.
On January 14, Customs officers intercepted 1,447 pieces of smuggled used tyres along the Yan Awaki Eastern Bypass in Kano with a DPV of ₦28.2 million."
Similarly, on January 20 and 22, officers intercepted two smuggled Dong Feng vehicles along the Kano–Hadejia and Maiduguri roads valued at ₦97.7 million.
"One of the vehicles was found to contain six silver metal bars weighing 12.2 kilograms, valued at ₦61 million."
In another incident on February 18, a passenger attempting to travel abroad was intercepted at the airport with 22.8 kilograms of undeclared silver bars concealed in his luggage.
Adamu explained that, the suspect and the precious metals were subsequently handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Other items seized by the command include 35 bales of second-hand clothing and 10 kegs of foreign vegetable oil, a Howo truck with forged temporary vehicle importation documents, as well as another Howo truck loaded with 2,765 cartons of smuggled spaghetti.
One of the most significant seizures recorded during the period was 503 cartons of Pregabalin 300mg capsules (Nervigesic brand) amounting to over 15 million capsules suspected to be fake pharmaceutical products without registration from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The drugs, which have a DPV of ₦729.9 million, were intercepted at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company warehouse of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Adamu said the suspected fake drugs would be handed over to NAFDAC for further investigation and necessary action.
The command also rescued a live lion cub, intercepted two pangolins, one of which was dead, and recovered two cows suspected to have been rustled.
"Several suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation."
The Acting Controller reaffirmed the commitment of the command to tackling economic sabotage and protecting the nation’s economy, urging the public to support Customs operations with credible information.
Meanwhile, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, commended the strong collaboration between the agency and the Nigeria Customs Service in combating fake and counterfeit medicines.
He noted that the seizure of over 15 million fake capsules had potentially saved millions of Nigerians from consuming harmful pharmaceutical products.
Iluyomade warned that authorities would not allow unscrupulous traders to profit from the suffering of citizens, stressing that the ongoing enforcement operations send a clear message that Nigeria will not be a safe haven for smugglers and counterfeit drug dealers. NNL.
