Nigeria Customs Service Zone ‘D’ Cracks Down on Smuggling, Seizes N110m Worth of Contraband in Bauchi

🇳🇬 Pidgin Version

<p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">In a remarkable display of vigilance and enforcement, the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘D’ Headquarters in Bauchi, has seized contraband and smuggled goods worth over N110 million in a single month. The announcement was made by Comptroller Abubakar Umar during a press briefing on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, highlighting the unit’s aggressive stance against illegal trade in the region.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Comptroller Umar, who recently assumed leadership of the unit, detailed the haul, which includes a diverse range of prohibited and uncustomed goods. The seizures comprise 448 jerry cans (11,200 liters) of premium motor spirit, 192 bales and two sacks of second-hand clothing, 140 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 125 pairs of desert and jungle boots, 47 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), and 9.40kg of pangolin scales. The cumulative duty-paid value of these items stands at N110,499,352, a testament to the scale of smuggling activities the unit is combating.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Umar emphasized the unit’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, noting that the seized pangolin scales, a highly protected wildlife item, will be handed over to the relevant agency for further action in line with customs standard operating procedures. Additionally, the confiscated premium motor spirit will be auctioned to the public, with proceeds remitted to the Federation account, ensuring transparency and accountability.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">The success of these operations, according to Umar, stems from intensified patrols, intelligence-driven enforcement, and the professionalism of the unit’s officers. “The current low cases of smuggling activities, especially in illegal wildlife trade, controlled drugs, and premium spirit, are a result of our strategic efforts,” he stated. These actions align with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, particularly sections 226 and 245, which empower the unit to tackle smuggling head-on.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Covering nine states—Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa—Zone ‘D’ has strengthened its anti-smuggling operations through enhanced collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies. This partnership has facilitated intelligence sharing and joint operations, enabling the unit to dismantle smuggling networks operating in the region. Umar credited this synergy for the recent successes, noting that it has significantly disrupted illegal trade activities.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">The comptroller issued a stern warning to traders engaging in illicit activities, urging them to comply with the law. “There will be no hiding place for those who engage in illegal trade,” he declared, reinforcing the unit’s resolve to maintain law and order in the zone.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">This seizure comes amid broader efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service to boost trade while cracking down on smuggling. Recent reports highlight commendations from stakeholders for the service’s trade facilitation initiatives and partnerships with neighboring countries like Benin Republic to enhance cross-border commerce. The Zone ‘D’ operation is a clear signal that the Customs Service is doubling down on its mandate to protect Nigeria’s economic borders while fostering legitimate trade.</p>