Anti-Smuggling: Kano/Jigawa Customs Seizes Vehicles With Fake Government License Plates

The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it generated ₦88.92 billion in revenue and intercepted contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦2.15 billion, driven by a sharp intensification of enforcement operations.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, announced the milestones on Friday, 4 September 2026, during a press briefing at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano.

At the press briefing, the Acting Customs Area Controller revealed that July 2026 marked the highest single-month revenue collection in the Command’s history, bringing in more than ₦14 billion.

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Highlighting its dual mandate of trade facilitation and national security, Adamu detailed a wide array of significant seizures, including unregistered pharmaceuticals, foreign food items and vehicles.

“Smugglers even resorted to mounting fake official government service licence plates on vehicles in an attempt to evade border checks,” the agency said in a statement, while showcasing the vehicles confiscated during its anti-smuggling operations.

In its anti-money laundering and anti-trafficking efforts, the Command intercepted undeclared foreign currencies, specifically $73,300, £15,975 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals. Adamu said the funds and two suspects had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Adamu urged legitimate business operators to embrace trade facilitation programmes such as the Authorised Economic Operator scheme, while warning smugglers that border enforcement remains uncompromising.

In related news, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, successfully dismantled a major smuggling ring, seizing 12 foreign-used (Tokunbo) vehicles, including a white Mercedes-Benz G-Class (G-Wagon) SUV, a silver Lexus RX 350 crossover SUV and a red BMW X6 coupe-SUV.

A press release by the Unit’s PRO, Chief Superintendent Hussaini Abdullahi, on Monday, 17 August 2026, attributed the seizures to intelligence-driven operations, risk profiling, strict compliance checks and targeted interventions against suspicious declarations.

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