In a major anti-smuggling operation, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 250 bags of foreign parboiled rice ingeniously hidden inside a fuel tanker along the Yauri-Kontagora Road in Kebbi State.
The rice, which remains under Nigeria’s import prohibition list, was uncovered after officers, acting on credible intelligence, stopped a DAF tanker truck and escorted it to the unit’s base in Kaduna for further inspection.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Saidu Nuruddeen.
According to Acting Comptroller AM Alkali, the vehicle was intercepted on August 3, 2025, following reports of suspicious activity along the route.
“Our operatives acted swiftly and professionally. A physical examination revealed 250 bags of smuggled rice cleverly concealed inside the fuel tanker a vehicle typically used for transporting petroleum products,” said Alkali.
The duty paid value (DPV) of the seized goods was estimated at ₦20.51 million, he added.
Zone B covers a large swath of Nigeria’s northwest and central regions, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory, making it one of the largest customs enforcement jurisdictions in the country.
Alkali praised the vigilance and professionalism of his officers, noting that the seizure is the result of the Unit’s intensified intelligence-led operations aimed at protecting the country’s economy from the adverse effects of smuggling.
“This operation highlights our evolving surveillance strategies and renewed commitment to suppressing smuggling and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests,” he said.
Hazardous Goods Handed Over to NAFDAC, NESREA
In a separate enforcement operation carried out on July 17, the Unit also handed over large consignments of unregistered pharmaceutical products and hazardous industrial chemicals to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Kaduna.
Items transferred to NAFDAC included:
- 58,740 sachets of 100mg and 50mg unregistered medicaments
- 27 cartons of Analgin injection, a banned or restricted painkiller in several countries due to safety concerns
Additionally, three sacks containing 990 pieces of Riodin chemical were handed over to NESREA, with the Customs Service warning about the environmental risks posed by such unregulated industrial imports.
Commendation for CGC Tenure Extension
Comptroller Alkali also used the occasion to commend President Bola Tinubu for approving the extension of the tenure of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
“This extension is a clear endorsement of the CGC’s reform-minded leadership. He has brought innovation, transparency, and professionalism into the Customs Service,” Alkali stated.
