Customs arrest six suspects, seize smuggled goods worth over N1bn in Kano, Jigawa
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested six suspects and seized smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) exceeding N1 billion in a series of intelligence-driven operations across Kano and Jigawa states.
The Acting Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, disclosed this while handing over some of the seized items to relevant agencies, including undeclared foreign currencies to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), counterfeit drugs to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and endangered wildlife species to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Adamu said the seizures were made between January 1 and March 10, 2026, through coordinated patrols, strategic surveillance and intelligence-led operations along key routes and border corridors in the two states.
According to him, the operations led to several interceptions involving prohibited and restricted goods, while suspects linked to the activities are currently undergoing investigation.
He explained that on January 5, 2026, Customs officers intercepted undeclared foreign currencies at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, including 106,500 US dollars, 134,256 Saudi Riyals, 28 Chinese Yuan and 20 Ghana Cedis.
Adamu further stated that on January 14, the Command intercepted 1,447 pieces of smuggled used pneumatic tyres along the Yan Awaki area of the Eastern Bye Pass in Kano, with a DPV of N28.2 million.
He added that on January 20 and 22, two smuggled Dong Feng vehicles were intercepted along the Kano–Hadejia and Maiduguri roads, with a combined DPV of N97.7 million. One of the vehicles was discovered to contain six silver metal bars weighing 12.2 kilograms, valued at N61 million.
In another operation on February 18, an outbound passenger at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport was intercepted with undeclared silver metal bars weighing 22.8 kilograms concealed in his luggage without proper export documentation, an act that contravenes provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Adamu said the suspect, along with the undeclared currencies and precious metals, had been handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
The Command also intercepted a Citroen bus along the Babura axis in Jigawa State conveying 35 bales of second-hand clothing valued at N17.5 million and 10 kegs of foreign refined vegetable oil worth N84,742.
In another seizure, a Howo truck loaded with 2,765 cartons of foreign spaghetti valued at N49.7 million was intercepted along Ajiri Village in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State.
Adamu also disclosed that Customs operatives intercepted 503 master cartons of Pregabalin 300mg (Nervigesic brand), containing over 15 million capsules, at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company terminal of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The suspected counterfeit pharmaceutical products, valued at N729.9 million, lacked NAFDAC registration numbers.
The drugs were subsequently handed over to NAFDAC officials in Kano for further investigation.
Other interceptions included two cows suspected to have been rustled, along with two suspects on Gezawa Road in Kano.
The suspects and the animals were handed over to the Kano State Police Command.
The Command also uncovered cases involving wildlife trafficking, including the interception of a live lion cub in Kano metropolis and the arrest of two suspects.
Additionally, one live and one dead pangolin were seized around Na’ibawa Gidan Raga in Kano on March 9, while another live pangolin was intercepted along the Kano–Maiduguri Road on March 10.
Adamu said the illegal wildlife trade contravenes the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“In summary, within the period under review, the Command recorded detentions and seizures of nine major items with a total DPV of N1.018 billion,” he said.
He warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs to desist from illegal activities, stressing that the Command remains committed to enforcing the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other relevant laws.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Sola-Christiana, represented by the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, commended the Customs Service for intercepting the suspected counterfeit drugs.
Iluyomade said the seizure prevented the harmful products from entering the market, noting that their circulation could have posed serious health risks to Nigerians.