The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 20 diverted transit containers with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦769,533,666, following intelligence-driven enforcement operations along the Kano/Jigawa Area Command axis.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Friday, December 19, 2025, during a press briefing in Kano, noting that the seizures occurred between the second and fourth quarters of 2025 as part of sustained efforts to dismantle organised cargo diversion syndicates.
Adeniyi described cargo diversion as a serious economic and security threat, stressing that it undermines government revenue and damages Nigeria’s credibility in global trade.
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“Cargo diversion is a grave offence that undermines government revenue, compromises national security, and damages Nigeria’s standing in international commerce. The Nigeria Customs Service will deploy all lawful measures to detect, deter, and punish offenders,” he said.
Items recovered from the containers include vitrified tiles unlawfully diverted from the Kano Free Trade Zone valued at ₦228.6 million, diesel engine oil, polyester materials, used clothing, printed and lace fabrics, medical consumables, and Zamzam bottled water. Some of the items are classified as prohibited imports under the Common External Tariff (CET) regulations.
The Comptroller-General disclosed that one container remains under detention pending the conclusion of legal processes, while two containers of medical consumables were forfeited to the Federal Government following a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Kano Division, on December 10, 2025.
He further confirmed the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Abdulrahman Sani Adam for container diversion. The convict was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦3 million fine, which Adeniyi described as a strong deterrent to would-be offenders.
To enhance monitoring of transit cargo nationwide, the Customs boss announced the near-complete deployment of electronic container tracking devices, enabling real-time monitoring, route compliance enforcement, and tamper alerts from ports to final destinations.
Adeniyi reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to revenue protection, trade facilitation, and border security, warning that smugglers and their collaborators would face prosecution, forfeiture, and loss of trading privileges.
He urged importers, agents, and logistics operators to strictly comply with approved transit procedures and report suspicious activities to the nearest Customs office.
