The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Katsina Command, has intercepted illicit drugs valued at about N690 million, along with two vehicles used to convey the substances.
The State NCS Controller, Mr. Idriss Abba-Aji, disclosed this on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen on the seizures.
According to him, operatives recovered 14 cartons of Tramadol worth N650 million and Fragbaline capsules valued at N28 million, all hidden in two different vehicles. Cannabis sativa worth about N15 million was also confiscated.
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Abba-Aji said, “Recently, we noticed that our borders are used for drug smuggling. Vehicles are cleverly used to confuse security personnel encountering them.
You may think such vehicles are conveying dignitaries.
“The public must understand that during our operations we stop all available vehicles to ensure checks.”
He further explained, “People complain about customs disturbing commuters. Drug traffickers will never use lorries or open vehicles.
“They conceal drugs inside vehicles designed to appear ordinary. Our operatives cannot detect such concealments without stopping and searching, and luck favoured us in confiscating two vehicles on different occasions.”
The NCS controller emphasized that each vehicle contained large quantities of illicit drugs, which were suspected to be distributed within Katsina and neighbouring states if not intercepted.
Abba-Aji also highlighted the broader social implications, stating, “Drug abuse fuels banditry in the region.
“To help curb the menace, the command has intensified its enforcement operations.”
