Kebbi Customs hands over toxic herbicides, cannabis, ammunition worth ₦223m to agencies

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi Area Command, has handed over 6,109 cartons of potentially harmful agricultural herbicides, 330 wraps of suspected cannabis and 49 rounds of ammunition to relevant regulatory and security agencies for further action.

The seized items, with the herbicides alone carrying a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦223.05 million, were formally transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) at the Command Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi on October 8, 2026.

In a release by Superintendent of Customs Mohammed Tajuddeen Salisu, Public Relations Officer of the command, the exercise followed the interception and seizure of the items, as well as the approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

The herbicides handed over to NAFDAC comprised 500 cartons of Rezim Herbicide, 708 cartons of Gramosun, 1,291 cartons of Sun-Paraquat, 1,990 cartons of Gbeledzo and 1,620 cartons of Gramostrong.

According to the Command, NAFDAC’s inspection revealed that the products contained active agents that made them highly toxic and potentially harmful to human health and the environment.

The herbicides had a combined DPV of ₦223,054,385.66.

The Command also transferred 330 wraps of suspected *Cannabis sativa*, with a stated DPV of ₦2.52 million, to the NDLEA for appropriate action.

Similarly, 37 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and 12 cartridges for a pump-action firearm were handed over to the NCCSALW for further statutory action.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Customs Area Controller, Kebbi Area Command, Comptroller Mahmoud Matawalle, fdc, said the exercise demonstrated the importance of sustained cooperation among law-enforcement, regulatory and security agencies in tackling the illicit movement of harmful substances, controlled drugs, arms and ammunition.

Matawalle said the Customs Service remained committed to protecting public health, safeguarding national security, promoting regulatory compliance and preventing prohibited or hazardous items from entering the distribution chain.

He stressed that effective collaboration among relevant agencies was essential to addressing the threats posed by illicit trade and the circulation of dangerous products.

The NDLEA State Commander, Rabiu Abdullahi Sokoto, commended the Customs Command for its continued cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and controlled substances.

Sokoto disclosed that the handover was not the first collaboration of its kind between the two agencies, noting that the Customs Command had previously transferred similar seizures to the NDLEA.

He added that the NDLEA had also invited Customs officials on previous occasions to witness the destruction of seized illicit drugs and controlled substances in line with established procedures.

According to him, such engagements promote transparency and accountability in the handling and disposal of seized substances.

The NAFDAC State Coordinator, Muyideen Suleiman, described the handover of the herbicides as a significant development, saying the quantity represented the largest seizure transferred by the Kebbi Customs Command to the agency’s state office.

He further described it as one of the largest seizures received by NAFDAC in the North-West Zone.

Suleiman appreciated the Customs Service for its support and cooperation in tackling the circulation of harmful, unapproved and potentially hazardous agricultural products.

He expressed optimism that both agencies would strengthen their partnership to curb the importation, distribution and circulation of substandard, falsified, unapproved and harmful regulated products across the country.

Representing the NCCSALW Zonal Director, Captain Iliya Dauda (rtd.) also commended the Customs Command for intercepting and transferring the live ammunition to the appropriate authority.

Dauda said the seizure and handover highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation in curbing the illicit movement of arms and ammunition and strengthening national security.

The ceremony ended with the signing of the handover documents and the formal transfer of the seized items to the respective agencies.