The Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, of the Nigeria Customs Service in Kaduna has intercepted cannabis worth N48.5 million and other contraband valued at over N220 million during separate operations.
The unit’s spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Customs Saidu Nuruddeen, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday. He said the operations were carried out on August 21 around 3:30 a.m.
“Acting on intelligence, operatives stopped a vehicle along the Zaria flyover on the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway and intercepted the contraband,” Nuruddeen said.
He explained that the team found nine sacks containing 185 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 89.6kg, in the vehicle.
“The seized substance has an estimated duty paid value of N48,562,500. Both the suspect and the exhibits have been handed over to operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution in line with the spirit of inter-agency collaboration,” he added.
In a separate operation, customs officers also intercepted three vehicles transporting various smuggled goods. These included 456 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 8,100 litres of petrol, 178 bales of second-hand clothes, 225 cartons of spaghetti, 107 used tyres, and 37 electric shockers.
The duty paid value of the contraband was put at N220,457,336.48.
The Comptroller of the unit, Aliyu Alkali, praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his support and guidance.
Alkali said the seizures show the service’s commitment to fighting smuggling, curbing illegal trade, and protecting Nigeria’s economy and security.
