Customs Zone D Seizes N82.1m Worth Of Contraband

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone D, Bauchi, has announced the interception and seizure of contraband goods valued at N82,114,567 between December 8 and 19, 2025.

The new Comptroller of FOU Zone D, Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, stated this at a press conference in Bauchi on Friday, while giving updates on the unit’s recent anti-smuggling activities.

FOU Zone D covers nine states including Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa.

“I assumed duty two weeks ago with a zero-tolerance stance on smuggling in the zone, and today (Friday), we are turning words into action through the seizures recorded in this short period,” Kaila stated.

He listed the seized prohibited and uncustomed goods as 15,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 34 bales and 6 sacks of second-hand clothing; 150 cartons of foreign spaghetti; 80 sacks of used shoes and 390 jerrycans of vegetable oil as well as 20 cartons of foreign washing soaps.

Kaila noted that the current decline in smuggling activities, particularly illegal wildlife trade, controlled drugs and narcotics, and PMS smuggling, reflects intensified patrols, intelligence-led enforcement, and the professionalism of FOU Zone D officers.

Customs boss added that anti-smuggling operations have been strengthened through increased collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies.

These partnerships according to him, facilitate intelligence exchange and enable joint operations to dismantle smuggling networks within the zone.

Kaila urged traders in the area to remain lawful and avoid illegal trade, promising no hiding place for offenders. “We will not rest on our oars until smuggling is suppressed to the bare minimum in our area of responsibility (AOR).”

He further pledged that the unit will prioritise public sensitisation through media engagements and outreach programmes, equipping local communities with knowledge and tools to report smuggling activities to the appropriate authorities.

Kaila affirmed the unit’s ongoing commitment to national development, border security, and the Service’s pivotal role in the nation’s economic growth.