Customs Intercepts 250 Bags of Smuggled Rice Hidden in Fuel Tanker
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone B, Kaduna, has intercepted a fuel tanker used to smuggle 250 bags of foreign parboiled rice into the country.
The seizure occurred on Saturday, August 3, 2025, along the Yauri-Kontagora road in Kebbi State, following credible intelligence received by Customs operatives.
The suspicious DAF tanker was escorted to the Unit’s headquarters in Kaduna for inspection, where the contraband rice was discovered concealed inside the tanker, which is normally used for transporting petroleum products.
According to a statement from the Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Saidu Nuruddeen, the rice remains under import restriction and has a duty-paid value of ₦20.51 million.
Acting Comptroller of the Unit, AM Alkali, confirmed the seizure and praised the operatives’ swift action. “This is a clear attempt to outsmart law enforcement, but our operatives acted professionally based on actionable intelligence,” Alkali said.
Zone B covers 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, and Kogi. The seizure reflects the Unit’s intelligence-driven approach to border enforcement.
In a separate operation, the Unit handed over large quantities of unregistered pharmaceutical products and hazardous chemicals to relevant regulatory agencies. On July 17, 2025, Customs turned over 58,740 sachets of unapproved medicaments and 27 cartons of banned Analgin injections to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Additionally, 990 pieces of Riodin chemical were handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) due to environmental and health risks.
Alkali also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending the tenure of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, describing it as recognition of Adeniyi’s reform-focused leadership and commitment to modernising the Service.
