Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, has intensified its offensive against smuggling networks, intercepting contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value of N721.9 million in a sweeping enforcement operation aimed at protecting Nigeria’s economy, securing its borders and shielding citizens from potentially dangerous unregistered pharmaceutical products.
The seizure, valued at precisely N721,957,021.41, represents a significant enforcement action by the Command as it steps up efforts to frustrate illicit cross-border trade, curb revenue losses and prevent prohibited or improperly imported goods from infiltrating the Nigerian market.
Disclosing the development to our correspondent on Friday in Sokoto, the Acting Customs Area Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller Haliru Isah Abdullahi, said the interceptions resulted from intensified anti-smuggling operations sustained despite security challenges in some parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states.
AC Abdullahi said the Command remained resolute in its determination to dismantle smuggling activities and enforce customs regulations, stressing that security challenges would not deter officers and men from discharging their statutory responsibilities.
Among the intercepted items were a used DAF truck, 599 bales of second-hand clothing, seven sacks of second-hand women’s bags, 43 cartons of cigarettes and seven cartons of Akouna coffee.
The seizures form part of the Command’s continuing efforts to disrupt the illegal movement of goods across Nigeria’s borders.
Of greater concern were the pharmaceutical products recovered during the operations, including 100 packages of quinine, 500 packages of amodiaquine, 140 packages of paracetamol and 300 packages of anti-cold medication.
Other items 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 warned that the circulation of unregistered medicines posed a serious threat to public health, particularly where consumers could be exposed to products whose quality, safety and regulatory status had not been established.
He maintained that the fight against pharmaceutical smuggling was essential to protecting lives and preventing potentially harmful products from reaching unsuspecting Nigerians.
“Eradicating smuggling will stop people from consuming unregistered drugs that cause grave danger to the health of citizens,” Abdullahi said, underscoring the public-health dimension of the Command’s enforcement campaign.
He explained that the seizures were executed under Sections 245 and 248 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which provide legal grounds for the seizure of goods liable to forfeiture.
He added that the Service would continue to apply the law against smuggling and other violations within its operational jurisdiction.
AC Abdullahi further stressed that unchecked smuggling undermines legitimate businesses, deprives government of revenue and weakens efforts to build a resilient domestic economy.
He said effective border enforcement would help create a fairer trading environment, strengthen compliance and support government investment in essential infrastructure and social services.
Issuing a stern warning to smugglers and their collaborators, the Acting Controller declared that the Command would not surrender its operational space to criminal elements seeking to exploit the country’s borders for illicit profit.
“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 declared, reaffirming the Command’s determination to sustain pressure on those involved in illegal cross-border activities.
He urged members of the public, community leaders and other stakeholders to provide credible intelligence that could help Customs officers identify smuggling routes, intercept suspicious consignments and bring offenders to justice.
AC Abdullahi also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, personnel of the Command and sister security agencies for their support and contributions to the anti-smuggling drive.
The Acting Controller reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, improving revenue generation, protecting public health and reducing smuggling to the barest minimum.
He maintained that sustained enforcement, effective inter-agency collaboration and public cooperation remained critical to securing Nigeria’s borders and safeguarding the nation’s economic interests.
