The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at N692m in Katsina State, in what officials described as the largest seizure in the command’s history.
Two private vehicles were stopped in separate operations around Kongolom and other border communities, with officers discovering cartons of tramadol, fragaballin capsules and nearly 200 wraps of cannabis hidden inside.
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The area controller, Abba-Aji Idriss, told reporters the haul reveals how drug smuggling has overtaken rice as the contraband of choice along Nigeria’s northern borders.
“This is the largest of its kind in the command,” Idriss said, displaying the seized drugs. “You cannot divorce the use of drugs from the banditry going on in this region. The smugglers conceal them in ordinary-looking vehicles, but luck was on our side.”
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The breakdown of the seizure included 14 cartons of tramadol worth an estimated N28 million, fragaballin capsules valued at N650 million, and cannabis sativa worth N14 million.
One suspect has been arrested and is expected to face charges after preliminary investigations, Mr Idriss said. He appealed to residents of border communities to work with customs officers to curb the trafficking of illicit substances, which he linked to insecurity in the region.
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