THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano–Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦1.01 billion between January and early March 2026.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Acting Area Comptroller of the command, Usman Umar Adamu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano.
Adamu said the seizures were recorded between January 1 and March 10, 2026, through intelligence-driven operations, coordinated patrols and surveillance along key border routes across Kano and Jigawa states.
He explained that the operations were carried out to protect Nigeria’s economy, safeguard public health and prevent revenue leakages.
Among the major interceptions was undeclared foreign currency discovered at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
According to the acting comptroller, customs officers recovered $106,500, 134,256 Saudi riyals, 28 Chinese yuan and 20 Ghana cedis from a passenger who failed to declare the funds.
Adamu further disclosed that the command intercepted 1,447 pieces of smuggled used pneumatic tyres, valued at more than ₦28.2 million, along the Nyang’awaki area of the Kano eastern bypass.
The command also seized two smuggled Dongfeng vehicles with a combined DPV of ₦97.7 million along the Kano–Hadejia and Maiduguri routes.
“One of the vehicles was found to contain silver metal bars weighing 12.2 kilograms with a DPV of about ₦61 million,” Adamu said.
He added that another outbound passenger was intercepted at the airport with 22.8 kilograms of silver metal bars concealed in his luggage without proper declaration.
According to him, the suspect, alongside the seized currencies and precious metals, has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Other items seized by the command include 2,765 cartons of smuggled spaghetti, second-hand clothing, vegetable oil, and a truck with a forged temporary vehicle importation permit.
Customs officers also intercepted 503 cartons of Pregabalin capsules, amounting to more than 15 million tablets, suspected to be unregistered pharmaceutical products.
Adamu said the drugs, valued at ₦729.9 million, were discovered at the terminal of Skyway Aviation Handling Company at the Kano airport.
He noted that the medicaments would be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation.
In addition, the command recorded wildlife-related seizures, including a live lion cub and pangolins, suspected to have been smuggled in violation of international wildlife protection laws.
Adamu said the lion cub had been handed over to wildlife conservationists for rehabilitation, while suspects connected to the cases remain under investigation.
“In total, the command recorded seizures and detentions of nine major items with a combined DPV of ₦1,018,971,728.02 within the period under review,” he stated.
He warned individuals involved in smuggling and other illegal trade activities to desist, noting that the command would continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement operations across the region.
Adamu also commended stakeholders, host communities and the media for supporting the command’s operations.
Meanwhile, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Martins Iluyomade, praised the customs service for intercepting the suspected fake drugs.
Iluyomade said the seizure of the consignment had potentially saved millions of Nigerians from consuming harmful medicines.