The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contraband goods valued at N722 million in Duty Paid Value (DPV) in Sokoto State, including dozens of bales of second-hand clothing, women’s bags, cartons of cigarettes and unregistered pharmaceutical products.
The seizure was announced by the Acting Area Comptroller of the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, Halliru Isa-Abdullahi, who briefed journalists on Thursday about the operation and the items recovered.
According to the customs official, the seized goods were being transported in a used DAF truck allegedly used to convey the contraband into Nigeria. The suspects reportedly abandoned the vehicle after discovering that customs operatives were tracking their movements.
The operation forms part of the NCS’s ongoing efforts to combat smuggling, protect public health and prevent illegal trade from undermining the Nigerian economy.
Isa-Abdullahi said the command would continue strengthening its enforcement activities despite security challenges in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Customs Recover Second-Hand Clothes, Bags and Cigarettes
Among the items intercepted by customs operatives were 59 bales of second-hand clothing, seven sacks of second-hand women’s bags and 43 cartons of cigarettes.
The consignment also included seven cartons of coffee and several categories of pharmaceutical products that the command described as unregistered.
The Acting Area Comptroller said the combined value of the seized goods stood at N722 million in Duty Paid Value, representing the estimated duties and taxes applicable to the consignment.
The recovery of the goods highlights the range of products involved in suspected smuggling activities, from used clothing and consumer goods to medicines that could pose risks if distributed without the necessary regulatory oversight.
However, the customs command did not provide a detailed breakdown of the value attributed to each category of seized items.
The official also did not disclose the identities of the individuals suspected of transporting the goods or confirm whether any arrests had been made in connection with the interception.
Unregistered Drugs Found Among Seized Contraband
Beyond the second-hand clothing, bags and cigarettes, the customs operation uncovered a range of pharmaceutical products, including medicines that Isa-Abdullahi said were unregistered.
The recovered items included 100 packages of quinine and 500 packages of amodiaquine, both medicines used in the treatment of malaria in appropriate clinical circumstances.
Other pharmaceutical products listed by the command were 140 packages of paracetamol, 300 packages of anti-cold medication and one carton of analgesic injections.
The consignment also contained four cartons of Dynewell syrup and tablets, one carton of Clear Cold and additional unregistered pharmaceutical products whose quantities were not specified.
The presence of these medicines raised concerns about the potential risks associated with the illegal importation and distribution of pharmaceutical products outside established regulatory channels.
Medicines that have not undergone the required registration and regulatory checks may have uncertain quality, safety or effectiveness. Their ingredients, storage conditions and handling may also be difficult to verify.
The customs command stressed that efforts to suppress smuggling were important not only for enforcing import regulations but also for protecting Nigerians from potentially dangerous products.
Although the statement identified the medicines recovered, it did not establish that every pharmaceutical item in the consignment was counterfeit or harmful. Further regulatory assessment would be needed to determine the status and suitability of individual products.
Suspects Abandon Truck as Customs Operatives Close In
Providing details of the operation, Isa-Abdullahi said the suspects abandoned the vehicle after realising that customs operatives were trailing them.
The abandoned truck was subsequently recovered by the command. According to the acting comptroller, some repairs were carried out before the vehicle was transported to Sokoto.
The vehicle, identified as a used DAF truck, was allegedly being used to convey the contraband goods into the country.
Isa-Abdullahi said the interception resulted from the command’s efforts to block and suppress smuggling activities across its area of responsibility.
He explained that customs operatives had continued to pursue enforcement operations despite security challenges affecting parts of the two states under the command.
The official did not disclose the precise location of the interception, the route allegedly used to transport the goods or the intended destination of the consignment.
Details of any subsequent investigation into the abandoned vehicle and the identities of the suspected smugglers were also not provided.
Nevertheless, the recovery of the truck and its contents represents another seizure recorded by the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command as it works to disrupt the movement of prohibited or improperly imported goods.
NCS Intensifies Anti-Smuggling Operations
Isa-Abdullahi attributed the command’s enforcement efforts to the broader anti-smuggling strategy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
He said the operation was consistent with Adeniyi’s directive emphasising consolidation, collaboration and innovation in customs enforcement.
According to the acting comptroller, the strategy is intended to strengthen border security, improve cooperation and protect Nigeria’s economy against activities that undermine legitimate trade.
Smuggling can deprive the government of customs revenue, create unfair competition for businesses that comply with import regulations and facilitate the movement of goods outside official control.
The illegal importation of pharmaceutical products also presents a distinct public health concern when medicines enter distribution channels without the necessary regulatory checks.
Isa-Abdullahi said the command’s sustained efforts had continued to produce results, even amid insecurity in some parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states.
He maintained that customs operatives would continue working to identify and intercept illicit consignments and prevent smugglers from exploiting weaknesses in border enforcement.
The official did not provide comparative figures showing how the latest seizure measured against previous operations or disclose the total value of contraband intercepted by the command over a specified period.
Customs Urges Nigerians to Provide Smuggling Intelligence
The acting comptroller called on members of the public to support the Nigeria Customs Service by providing credible information that could help authorities identify and prevent smuggling activities.
He said public cooperation was essential to strengthening enforcement and tackling networks involved in the illegal movement of goods.
According to Isa-Abdullahi, reducing smuggling would help protect consumers from unregistered medicines that could endanger their health while also supporting the national economy.
He added that improved revenue collection and protection of legitimate commercial activities could help the Federal Government generate resources for public services and social amenities.
The appeal reflects the command’s position that anti-smuggling efforts cannot rely solely on patrols and interceptions but also require information and cooperation from communities.
However, the official did not announce a new reporting mechanism or provide specific contact details for members of the public wishing to share intelligence with the command.
Customs Warns Smugglers Against Further Illegal Activities
Isa-Abdullahi issued a warning to individuals involved in smuggling and those suspected of assisting them, urging them to abandon the practice.
He said customs operatives would continue to strengthen their operations and remain vigilant against attempts to move contraband into the country.
The acting comptroller maintained that the command would not be deterred by the tactics employed by smugglers, stressing that enforcement personnel intended to stay ahead of those involved in illegal trade.
The N722 million seizure adds to the command’s efforts to enforce import regulations and prevent prohibited or unregistered products from entering the Nigerian market.
With second-hand clothing, women’s bags, cigarettes and pharmaceutical products among the recovered items, the operation also illustrates the varied nature of goods encountered during anti-smuggling activities.
The command has urged the public to cooperate with customs officials as investigations continue. Further information on possible arrests, the ownership of the abandoned truck and the final disposition of the seized goods had not been disclosed in the announcement.
For the Nigeria Customs Service, the stated priorities remain the suppression of smuggling, the protection of public health, the security of the country’s borders and the safeguarding of government revenue.
Source: NAN
