Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted smuggled goods valued at ₦721.9m in Sokoto and Zamfara states, including second-hand clothing, cigarettes and unregistered pharmaceutical products, as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal cross-border trade.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Haliru Isah Abdullahi, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto.
Abdullahi said the total duty-paid value of the seized items was ₦721,957,021.41, adding that the operations were aimed at protecting Nigeria’s economy, securing its borders and preventing illegal goods from entering circulation.
Among the seized items were a used DAF truck, 599 bales of second-hand clothes, seven sacks of second-hand women’s bags, 43 cartons of cigarettes and seven cartons of Akouna coffee.
The command also confiscated pharmaceutical products, including 100 packages of quinine, 500 packages of amodiaquine, 140 packages of paracetamol and 300 packages of anti-cold medication.
Other seized medical products included a carton of analgesic injections, two cartons of Dynewell syrup, one carton of Dynewell tablets and one carton of Clear Cold.
The acting controller said the seizures were made under Sections 245 and 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which provide for the seizure of goods liable to forfeiture.
He noted that the command had sustained its anti-smuggling operations despite security challenges in parts of its area of responsibility, warning that unregistered medicines posed significant risks to public health.
“Eradicating smuggling will stop people from consuming unregistered drugs that cause grave danger to the health of citizens,” Abdullahi said.
He added that curbing smuggling would protect legitimate businesses, strengthen the economy and support government efforts to provide social amenities. He also warned smugglers and their collaborators to abandon the illegal trade.
“No matter their antics, we will continue to be a step ahead of them. The Sokoto/Zamfara Command under my watch will not be a safe haven for smugglers,” he said.
Abdullahi urged members of the public to provide credible intelligence to support efforts against smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, officers of the command and sister security agencies for their contributions to the operations.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, generating revenue for national development and reducing smuggling to the barest minimum.
“We will continue to facilitate legitimate trade, collect revenue for national development and suppress smuggling to the barest minimum,” Abdullahi said.
