Nigeria Customs Intercepts Counterfeit Drugs and Smuggled Wildlife Valued at N1 Billion in Kano Command

Kano/Jigawa Customs intercept 15 million fake pills, silver bars, and a lion cub. Total seizures for early 2026 exceed N1 billion in duty paid value.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 6:54 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Coordinated Enforcement Leads to Billion Naira Seizure

The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has reported a significant breakthrough in its anti smuggling campaign, intercepting illicit goods with a Duty Paid Value exceeding N1.018 billion. These operations, conducted between January 1 and March 10, 2026, represent a strategic escalation in border security across the two northern states. Acting Area Controller Umar Adamu, during his first official press briefing, emphasized that the seizures resulted from a sophisticated blend of intelligence driven surveillance and coordinated patrols. The enforcement push is part of a broader federal mandate to stabilize the national economy by sealing revenue leakages and preventing the entry of unregulated commodities.

Major Pharmaceutical Bust at International Airport

The most substantial portion of the total valuation came from a massive interception of pharmaceutical products at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Customs officers discovered 503 master cartons of Pregabalin capsules, marketed under the Nervigesic brand, within the Skyway Aviation Handling Company facility. This single haul, consisting of over 15 million capsules, is valued at approximately N729.9 million. According to Adamu, the medication is suspected to be counterfeit and lacked any formal registration from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. The removal of these unregulated drugs is being framed as a vital win for public health in the region.

Vehicular Smuggling and Concealed Precious Metals

Enforcement teams also targeted the illegal importation of vehicles and high value commodities along major transit routes. The command successfully seized two Dong Feng vehicles with an estimated market value of N97.7 million. Upon a detailed inspection of one vehicle, officers discovered 12.2 kilograms of silver metal bars, valued at N61 million, which had been carefully hidden to evade duties. Additionally, a Howo truck was intercepted while transporting 2,765 cartons of foreign spaghetti, alongside a truck head featuring forged temporary importation documents. These cases illustrate the varied and complex methods utilized by smugglers to bypass Nigerian maritime and land border regulations.