Customs intercepts N48.5m worth of cannabis and N220m in smuggled goods in Kaduna, including rice, fuel, second-hand clothes, and used tyres.
The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of 185 blocks of Cannabis Sativa valued at ₦48.5 million along with other contraband worth ₦220.4 million, in a series of coordinated operations.
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The seizure was carried out on August 21 around 3:30 a.m., following actionable intelligence, according to a statement released on Thursday by Chief Superintendent of Customs, Saidu Nuruddeen, spokesperson of the unit.
Customs operatives stopped a vehicle on the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway, near the Zaria flyover. Upon searching, they discovered:
- 185 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa
- Weighing approximately 89.6kg
- Hidden in nine sacks
- Estimated duty-paid value: ₦48,562,500
A male suspect was arrested at the scene and has since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
In a separate operation, Customs also seized:
- 456 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice
- 8,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
- 178 bales of second-hand clothing
- 225 cartons of spaghetti
- 107 used tyres
- 37 electric shockers (tasers)
Total duty-paid value of the additional contraband: ₦220,457,336.48
Comptroller of the unit, Aliyu Alkali, commended Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his continued support and strategic guidance.
“We remain fully committed to the ongoing fight against smuggling, illegal trade, and the infiltration of uncustomed goods.
These seizures reflect our dedication to safeguarding national security and economic stability,” Alkali stated.
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He further emphasized that the operations highlight the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and the importance of intelligence-led enforcement
