FLASH POINT

By Shehu Yahaya

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kano/Jigawa Area Command says it intercepted smuggled goods worth over ₦1.01 billion and made several arrests during intelligence-driven operations carried out between January and early March 2026.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Usman Adamu, disclosed this at a press briefing in Kano, noting that the seizures included undeclared foreign currencies, precious metals, vehicles, pharmaceutical products and trafficked wildlife.
He said customs officers at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport recovered $106,500, 134,256 Saudi riyals and other foreign currencies from a passenger who failed to declare the funds, while another traveler was intercepted with 22.8 kilograms of undeclared silver bars.

Other seizures included two smuggled vehicles, 1,447 used tyres, 35 bales of second-hand clothing, foreign vegetable oil and 2,765 cartons of spaghetti, as well as over 15 million capsules of Pregabalin 300mg suspected to be unregistered drugs.
Adamu said suspects linked to the currency and precious metal seizures were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, while the pharmaceutical products would be transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for investigation.
The command also intercepted trafficked wildlife, including a lion cub and pangolins, and recovered two cows suspected to have been rustled.
Adamu reaffirmed the command’s commitment to enforcing the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and warned smugglers to desist from illegal trade activities.