Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has recorded a major breakthrough in its anti-smuggling operations, intercepting various contraband items valued at over N1.71 billion while simultaneously generating N63.08 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026. The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller U.U. Adamu, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media briefing at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano, where he presented the command's half-year performance report. According to Adamu, the revenue generated between January and June 2026 represents a 7.4 per cent increase compared to the N58.39 billion collected during the same period in 2025, despite a decline in cargo throughput. The improved revenue performance was attributed to administrative reforms, enhanced monitoring systems, intelligence-led operations, and stronger stakeholder engagement.
Adamu explained that the command's success was driven by deliberate operational strategies, including tighter monitoring of transit cargo, streamlined revenue collection processes, enhanced cargo clearance procedures, and stronger compliance measures. The Kano Free Trade Zone contributed more than N26 billion during the six-month period, exceeding the zone's total revenue for the whole of 2025 by about N4 billion. Additionally, the command recovered approximately N3 billion through the detection of abuses in transit procedures. "The success recorded in the first half of 2026 demonstrates the unwavering commitment, professionalism and resilience of the command officers and men," Adamu said.
In its enforcement activities, the command intensified intelligence-driven operations, leading to the seizure of prohibited goods across 13 categories. The intercepted items included unregistered pharmaceuticals such as tramadol and pregabalin; four air pistols imported in violation of the Firearms Act; elephant tusks and other endangered wildlife products; more than 2,000 kegs of foreign refined vegetable oil valued at over N159 million; military uniforms and accoutrements; 14 diverted 40-foot transit containers linked to abuse of Customs transit procedures; smuggled vehicles and truck heads; foreign spaghetti and macaroni; foreign parboiled rice; counterfeit agrochemical packaging materials; and an RX drone camera GPS imported without the required End User Certificate.
A total of 22 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, with some handed over to relevant security and regulatory agencies for further investigation, while others were granted administrative bail. At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, operatives intercepted undeclared foreign currencies and negotiable instruments, including 568,100 US dollars, 134,256 Saudi Riyals, 28 Chinese Yuan, 20 Ghana Cedis, and 35 kilograms of silver bars valued at N175 million. Adamu described the airport interceptions as a demonstration of the command's commitment to tackling illicit financial flows and strengthening the integrity of Nigeria's financial system, in line with the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Adamu attributed the command's performance to the commitment of its officers, collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies, and reforms championed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. He urged importers, exporters, and other stakeholders to comply with government fiscal and trade policies, assuring that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and stakeholder collaboration to facilitate legitimate trade, suppress smuggling, and improve revenue generation in the second half of the year. The command's achievements highlight the effectiveness of intelligence-driven enforcement and strategic reforms in boosting government revenue and combating illicit trade.
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