The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has disrupted several smuggling operations across Kano and Jigawa states, seizing prohibited goods valued at more than N1.01 billion and arresting multiple suspects within a two-month period.
Acting Customs Area Controller, CAC, for the command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, disclosed this during his maiden press briefing at the Customs House, Bompai, Kano, on Tuesday.
Adamu explained that the seizures were made through intelligence-led operations, coordinated patrols and enhanced collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies.
He noted that the interceptions, carried out between January and early March 2026, involved a wide range of items including undeclared foreign currencies and precious metals, smuggled vehicles, illicit pharmaceutical products and trafficked wildlife.
According to him, the enforcement actions were aimed at protecting the nation’s economy, safeguarding public health and preventing revenue losses associated with illegal cross-border trade.
“Our anti-smuggling operations are targeted at protecting the Nigerian economy, preserving public health and ensuring that legitimate businesses are not undermined by illicit trade,” Adamu said.
One of the major seizures, he said, occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, where customs officers uncovered undeclared foreign currencies concealed in a passenger’s luggage.
He said the officers recovered 106,500 United States dollars, 134,256 Saudi riyals, 28 Chinese yuan and 20 Ghanaian cedis from the passenger, who failed to declare the funds in line with financial regulations.
In another case at the airport, an outbound traveller was intercepted with about 22.8 kilograms of silver bars hidden in his baggage without the necessary export documentation.
Adamu further disclosed that customs operatives intercepted two smuggled Dongfeng vehicles along the Kano–Hadejia and Kano–Maiduguri highways, with one of the vehicles found to be carrying six silver bars weighing about 12.2 kilograms.
He said the suspect linked to the undeclared currencies and precious metals had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Acting CAC added that intensified surveillance along key smuggling routes also led to the interception of 1,447 used pneumatic tyres along the Yan Awaki axis of the Eastern Bypass in Kano following actionable intelligence.
Similarly, along the Babura axis in Jigawa State, customs officers intercepted a Citroën bus transporting 35 bales of second-hand clothing and several kegs of foreign refined vegetable oil in contravention of import restrictions.
Adamu also revealed that along the Katsina–Kano corridor, officers seized a Howo truck head accompanied by forged temporary importation documents.
Further operations around Ajiri village in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State resulted in the confiscation of another Howo truck loaded with 2,765 cartons of smuggled foreign spaghetti.
In a separate operation, the command recorded a major pharmaceutical seizure at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company, SAHCO, terminal of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
According to Adamu, officers intercepted more than 15 million capsules of Pregabalin 300mg suspected to be unregistered medicaments without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
He said the items would be handed over to the agency for further investigation.
Beyond contraband goods, the command also handled cases involving livestock theft and wildlife trafficking.
Adamu said officers intercepted two cows suspected to have been rustled along Gezawa Road in Kano and arrested two suspects who were later handed over to the police.
He also disclosed that customs operatives rescued a live lion cub within Kano metropolis and arrested two suspects in connection with its illegal possession.
In addition, the command intercepted one live pangolin and another dead specimen around the Na’ibawa axis of Kano, while a second live pangolin was later seized along the Kano–Maiduguri road.
Adamu explained that the wildlife seizures were in line with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES.
Overall, he said the command recorded seizures across nine major categories of prohibited items with a total Duty Paid Value exceeding N1.018 billion within the period under review.
The Acting CAC reaffirmed the command’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders in line with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, which focuses on consolidation, collaboration and innovation.
He warned individuals engaged in smuggling and other forms of economic sabotage to desist, stressing that the command would sustain aggressive surveillance and enforcement operations across its jurisdiction.
“The Kano/Jigawa Area Command remains committed to enforcing the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other relevant laws. Those involved in illegal trade should desist immediately,” he said.
Adamu also commended stakeholders, host communities and the media for their continued support and urged members of the public to provide credible intelligence to assist the service in tackling illicit trade.
