Sh*ck In Kaduna! Customs Seize ₦48.5m Cannabis, ₦220m Contraband In Daring Operation

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kaduna, has intercepted 185 blocks of Cannabis Sativa valued at ₦48.5 million, along with other contraband goods worth over ₦220 million, in separate operations.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Saidu Nuruddeen, who issued the release on behalf of the Comptroller.

According to Nuruddeen, the cannabis was seized on August 21 at about 3:30 a.m. after an intelligence-driven operation. Operatives intercepted a vehicle along the Zaria flyover on the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway, where they discovered nine sacks containing 185 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 89.6kg.

He explained that the seized drugs, valued at ₦48,562,500, along with a male suspect, had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution in line with inter-agency collaboration.

In a separate operation, Customs operatives also intercepted three vehicles loaded with smuggled goods, including:

• 456 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice

• 8,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)

• 178 bales of second-hand clothes

• 225 cartons of spaghetti

• 107 used tyres

• 37 electric shockers (tasers)

The total duty paid value (DPV) of these seizures was put at ₦220,457,336.48.

Comptroller of the Unit, Aliyu Alkali, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his continuous support and reaffirmed the Service’s resolve to intensify the fight against smuggling and illegal trade.

“These seizures are part of ongoing efforts by the Service to protect the nation’s economy and safeguard national security,” Alkali emphasized.