BAUCHI, Nigeria (FN) — The Nigeria Customs Service said Friday it seized contraband goods worth more than N82 million in the country’s northeast, highlighting the government’s intensified crackdown on smuggling across porous borders.
Officials reported that the seizures were made between December 8 and 19 in Bauchi, where the Federal Operations Unit Zone D is headquartered. The confiscated items included petrol, second‑hand clothing, pasta, used shoes, vegetable oil and foreign soaps.
Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, who assumed command of Zone D earlier this month, told reporters the operation reflects a “zero‑tolerance” stance against smuggling. “We will not relent in our efforts to enforce the law and protect Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
The duty‑paid value of the goods was estimated at N82,114,567. The haul included 15,100 liters of petrol, 34 bales and six sacks of second‑hand clothing, 150 cartons of foreign pasta, 80 sacks of used shoes, 390 jerry‑cans of vegetable oil and 20 cartons of foreign washing soap.
Nigeria bans the importation of certain items, including second‑hand clothing and foreign rice, to encourage domestic production. Authorities say smuggling undermines local industries, deprives the government of revenue and fuels black‑market trade.
Zone D covers nine states in northern Nigeria, including Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa. The region has long been vulnerable to smuggling due to its extensive borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Kaila said the seizures were made possible through intelligence gathering and increased patrols. He urged smugglers to desist, warning that Customs would continue to intensify operations. “Smuggling is economic sabotage, and we will treat it as such,” he added.
Officials did not immediately confirm whether arrests were made, but said investigations are ongoing. Analysts note that prosecutions are often difficult because smugglers operate in remote areas and rely on informal networks.
Smuggling remains a major challenge for Nigeria, where poverty and unemployment drive demand for cheaper foreign goods. Contraband such as second‑hand clothing and used shoes flood local markets, undermining Nigeria’s textile and footwear industries.
The crackdown also has security implications. Smuggling routes often overlap with insurgent supply lines in the northeast, raising concerns that illicit trade could finance extremist groups. Customs officials say their operations help safeguard both the economy and national security.
International observers view Nigeria’s anti‑smuggling campaign as part of a wider regional struggle. Countries across West and Central Africa face similar challenges, with porous borders and high demand for foreign goods fueling contraband markets.
For now, the Bauchi seizures highlight Nigeria’s ongoing effort to balance enforcement with economic realities. As the government pushes for self‑sufficiency, Customs insists its zero‑tolerance approach will continue — even as smugglers adapt to evade detection.
