The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, has intercepted 250 bags of foreign parboiled rice ingeniously concealed inside a fuel tanker in a major anti-smuggling operation along the Yauri-Kontagora Road in Kebbi State.
According to a statement issued by the Unit’s spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Customs Saidu Nuruddeen, the seizure followed credible intelligence received by operatives patrolling the area.
The suspicious vehicle, a DAF tanker, was escorted to the FOU base in Kaduna where a thorough inspection revealed the concealed contraband.
Acting Comptroller of the Unit, AM Alkali, confirmed that the interception took place on August 3, 2025.
“Our operatives, acting on actionable intelligence, intercepted the tanker which was purportedly carrying fuel.
However, upon detailed examination in Kaduna, we discovered 250 bags of foreign rice still under import prohibition stashed inside the tanker,” he said.
The duty paid value (DPV) of the seized goods is estimated at ₦20.51 million.
The interception highlights a growing trend in the use of unconventional methods to smuggle contraband into the country.
A fuel tanker, typically used for petroleum transportation, is a rare and dangerous choice for such illegal activity, raising concerns about public safety and national security.
Zone B, under which the seizure was made, covers a wide 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 jurisdictions in Nigeria.
Comptroller Alkali praised the vigilance and professionalism of the officers involved, noting that the success was a reflection of the Unit’s evolving intelligence-driven approach to combating smuggling and safeguarding Nigeria’s economy.
In a separate operation earlier on July 17, the Unit also handed over large quantities of unregistered pharmaceutical products and hazardous industrial chemicals to the appropriate agencies — the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Items transferred to NAFDAC included 58,740 sachets of unregistered medications and 27 cartons of Analgin injections, a drug banned in several countries due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, NESREA received 990 pieces of Riodin chemical, suspected to pose significant environmental risks.
During the briefing, Comptroller Alkali also lauded President Bola Tinubu for extending the tenure of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
He described the CGC as a visionary leader whose reforms are repositioning the Service for greater effectiveness.
“The extension is a recognition of the CGC’s commitment to professionalism and transparency in service delivery. His leadership has brought innovation and renewed energy into the Nigeria Customs Service,” Alkali said.
The Customs Service reiterated its commitment to intensifying surveillance and intelligence-led operations in the fight against smuggling across Nigeria’s borders.
