Customs intercepts smuggled goods worth N721.9m in Sokoto, Zamfara
The Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, has intercepted smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦721.9 million The post Customs intercepts smuggled goods worth N721.9m in Sokoto, Zamfara…
Border states like Sokoto and Zamfara, which share porous frontiers with Niger Republic, have long been hotspots for smuggling, with contraband ranging from food items and used clothing to unregistered pharmaceuticals and, at times, arms moving through unofficial routes. The Nigeria Customs Service maintains area commands across these states specifically to curb revenue leakages and block the entry of goods that bypass duty payment and regulatory checks, a task complicated by vast ungoverned terrain and limited manpower along the borders.
The latest seizure, with a Duty Paid Value of roughly ₦721.9 million, adds to a recurring pattern of large-scale interceptions announced by Customs commands nationwide, often cited as evidence of stepped-up enforcement against revenue loss and unsafe or substandard goods entering local markets. Coverage across outlets is consistent on the command involved and the value of the haul, with Punch additionally specifying second-hand clothing and unregistered drugs among the items recovered. Details such as the exact breakdown of goods seized, how they were intercepted, and whether any arrests were made have not been uniformly reported.