Customs Intercepts Drugs Worth N690m In Katsina

The Katsina Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday, 19 August, 2025 confirmed that it has seized illicit drugs valued at approximately N690 million, intercepting two vehicles conveying the exhibits.
The NCS Controller in the state, Mr Idriss Abba-Aji, who confirmed the development in Katsina on Tuesday, 19 August, 2025 while addressing newsmen on the arrest and seizure, said operatives seized 14 cartons of Tramadol valued at N650 million and Fragbaline capsules worth N28 million, hidden in two different vehicles.
According to Abba-Aji, the seizures were made within two weeks, adding that cannabis sativa worth about N15 million was also confiscated by the operatives.
“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.
“People complain about customs disturbing commuters. Drug traffickers will never use lorries or open vehicles. They conceal drugs inside vehicles designed to appear ordinary,” the Controller said.
While explaining that that operatives cannot detect such concealments without stopping and conducting a search, he added that luck favoured them in confiscating two vehicles on different occasions.
According to Abba-Aji, each vehicle conveyed large quantities of illicit drugs, suspected to be distributed within Katsina and neighbouring states if not intercepted.