PHOTOS:Nigeria Customs Seizes ₦20.5m Worth of Smuggled Rice Concealed in Fuel Tanker

On August 6, 2025, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service in Kaduna intensified its anti-smuggling operations by intercepting a fuel tanker hiding 250 bags of foreign parboiled rice.

The rice, which remains banned for importation, was discovered concealed inside a DAF tanker truck normally used for transporting petroleum products.

The Unit also handed over confiscated unregistered pharmaceutical drugs and hazardous chemicals to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), respectively.

This development was revealed in a statement released by the Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Saidu Nuruddeen.

According to the statement, the seizure was made on August 3, 2025, after Customs operatives received credible intelligence while patrolling the Yauri-Kontagora Road in Kebbi State.

The vehicle was taken to Kaduna for a full inspection, which led to the discovery of the smuggled rice.

Acting Comptroller AM Alkali confirmed that the rice’s duty paid value was ₦20.51 million.

He praised his team for their swift and professional response and noted that this successful operation was the result of an intelligence-driven approach aimed at curbing smuggling and safeguarding the nation’s economy.

Zone ‘B’ covers a vast area including Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory, making it one of the largest Customs enforcement zones in Nigeria.

In a separate incident, on July 17, 2025, the Unit officially transferred a large quantity of unregistered medicines and industrial chemicals to NAFDAC and NESREA.

These included 58,740 sachets of 100mg and 50mg drugs, along with 27 cartons of Analgin injections a painkiller banned or restricted in many countries over safety concerns.

Comptroller Alkali also lauded the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), calling his extended tenure a recognition of his reforms, transparency, and modernization efforts within the Nigeria Customs Service.