Nigeria Customs Service reports major seizures and record revenue

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported significant enforcement successes and revenue growth. The Kano/Jigawa Area Command generated N88.93 billion in revenue year-to-date, with July alone recording a historic N14 billion. During recent operations, the command intercepted contraband valued at N2.16 billion, including large quantities of foreign food products, vehicles, and unregistered pharmaceuticals.

In a major enforcement breakthrough, the NCS intercepted 48 endangered wildlife species, including primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas, birds, and crocodiles. Officials described this as potentially the largest and most diverse single wildlife seizure in the history of the service and the West African sub-region.

Additionally, the Federal Operations Unit Zone A handed over narcotics valued at N3.95 billion and three suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). To modernize operations, Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi announced a shift toward a data-driven model, utilizing artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to identify high-risk cargo and combat increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks.