Kano/Jigawa Customs hits ₦88.9bn Collection Records Largest Wildlife Seizures in Customs History
The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has generated ₦88.93 billion in revenue so far in 2026 and seized goods with a combined duty paid value of ₦2.16 billion over the past two months, including what it described as the largest single wildlife interception in the history of the Service.
Customs seize Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Albino Alligators in Kano wildlife trafficking bust
Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Usman U. Adamu, gave the figures on Friday, 4 September 2026, during a press briefing at the Customs House, Bompai, Kano. He spoke on behalf of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the NCS management.
July sets command record
Adamu recalled that the command collected ₦63.08 billion in the first half of the year. Year-to-date collections now stand at ₦88,925,099,742.70 — a rise of about ₦25.85 billion since July.
July, he said, was the command’s highest monthly collection on record, with more than ₦14 billion generated.
Seizures worth ₦2.16bn
Beyond revenue, Adamu said the command had kept up enforcement against smuggling of prohibited, restricted and controlled goods. Seizures and detentions in the period under review had a total duty paid value of ₦2,159,325,503.
Food and personal-care items intercepted included:
1,491 cartons of foreign spaghetti — ₦38.74 million; 2,928 packs of foreign macaroni — ₦280.73 million ,35 bags of foreign parboiled rice, plus the means of conveyance — ₦8.14 million, 19 bags of expired foreign parboiled rice of various brands, plus the means of conveyance — ₦475,000, 3,000 jerry cans of foreign refined and packaged vegetable oil — ₦431.85 million, 514 cartons of assorted soaps — ₦38.07 million
The pasta seizures, he said, violate Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. The vegetable oil falls under Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff 2022–2027.
On vehicles and transit abuse, the command intercepted eight suspected diverted transit truck heads valued at ₦300.91 million and seven smuggled vehicles of different brands valued at ₦410.54 million. Five 40-foot diverted transit containers with a duty paid value of ₦645.16 million were also seized, in alleged violation of Sections 64 and 235 of the NCS Act.
Officers further recovered 6,072 pieces of counterfeit agro packaging materials worth ₦1.82 million, which Adamu said violates Section 168 of the Act on the protection of intellectual property.
Fake drugs handed to NAFDAC
Unregistered pharmaceutical products — 712,690 tablets of different brands and 17,470 vials and ampoules — have been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action.
He also announced that 48 animals were intercepted and three suspects arrested
The standout operation was the interception on 25 August of 48 endangered wildlife species. Adamu listed 15 primates, including chimpanzees, gorillas and bush babies
four wild cats, including civet and caracal
25 wild birds, including greater bustards and rockfowl ,two albino crocodiles and a honey badger
“This is believed to be the largest and most diverse single seizure of wildlife ever recorded in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service and probably the West African sub-region,” Adamu said.
He tied the operation to Nigeria’s obligations under international conventions and Section 55(1)(i) of the NCS Act 2023.
Vandalised power lines and undeclared cash
Two suspects were intercepted with 993.9 metres of 150mm² vandalised high-voltage aluminium conductors valued at ₦2.88 million. They are to be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Adamu said protection of critical national infrastructure was part of border security.
On anti-money laundering, the command seized undeclared foreign currency above the $10,000 threshold under Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022:,$73,300 ,£15,975,827,800 Saudi riyals.The cash and two suspects were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kano Zonal Directorate.
Official plates on smuggled cars
Adamu flagged what he called a “disturbing trend”: some intercepted smuggled vehicles carrying government official plate numbers in an apparent bid to evade Customs control. The command would keep watching the practice, he said.
He drew a line between compliant traders and smugglers. Legitimate operators, he said, should use Service initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator scheme, Advance Ruling and the One Stop Shop. Those using illicit channels would face continued enforcement.
“Compliance remains the most effective way of conducting business without unnecessary interruption,” he said. “A compliant trading community makes our work easier, reduces delays and promotes predictability while ultimately contributing to a stronger economy.”
