By Peace Udugba — The Daily Torch Media
The Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and handed over consignments of harmful agricultural herbicides, suspected cannabis and live ammunition to relevant regulatory and security agencies.
The seized items were formally handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) during a ceremony held at the Command Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The exercise followed the directive and approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, after the items were intercepted, seized and inspected by the relevant authorities.
NCS Hands Over Toxic Herbicides to NAFDAC
The agricultural 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 Customs Command, NAFDAC inspection revealed that the products contained active agents capable of posing serious risks to human health and the environment.
The seized herbicides have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦223,054,385.66.
The Command also handed over 330 wraps of suspected Cannabis sativa, valued at ₦2.52 million, to the NDLEA for appropriate statutory action.
Similarly, 37 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and 12 cartridges for a pump-action firearm were handed over to the NCCSALW.
Customs Stresses Inter-Agency Collaboration
Speaking at the ceremony, the Customs Area Controller, Kebbi Area Command, Comptroller Mahmoud Matawalle, fdc, stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among law-enforcement, regulatory and security agencies in tackling the illicit movement of harmful substances, controlled drugs, arms and ammunition.
Matawalle said the exercise demonstrated the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to protecting public health, strengthening national security, promoting regulatory compliance and preventing prohibited or dangerous items from entering the distribution chain.
NDLEA Commends Kebbi Customs
The State Commander of the NDLEA, Rabiu Abdullahi Sokoto, commended the Kebbi Area Command for its continued cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and controlled substances.
Sokoto disclosed that the latest handover was not the first involving the two agencies, noting that Customs had previously transferred similar seizures to the NDLEA.
He added that the NDLEA had also invited the Customs Command on previous occasions to witness the destruction of seized illicit drugs and controlled substances in line with established procedures.
According to him, such collaboration promotes transparency and accountability in the handling and destruction of seized illicit substances.
NAFDAC Describes Herbicide Seizure as Significant
The NAFDAC Kebbi State Coordinator, Muyideen Suleiman, described the handover as a significant milestone for the agency.
Suleiman said the quantity of agricultural herbicides represented the largest seizure handed over by the Kebbi Area Command to the NAFDAC Kebbi State Office and was also among the largest seizures received by the agency in the North-West Zone.
He commended Customs for its continued support and collaboration in preventing the circulation of harmful, unapproved and potentially hazardous agricultural products.
Suleiman called for stronger synergy between NAFDAC and Customs to tackle the importation, distribution and circulation of substandard, falsified, unapproved and harmful regulated products in Nigeria.
NCCSALW Commends Customs Over Ammunition Seizure
Representing the Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, Captain Iliya Dauda (Rtd.) expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service for its continued cooperation and partnership.
Dauda commended the Kebbi Command for intercepting and handing over the live ammunition, noting that such seizures demonstrate the importance of inter-agency collaboration in combating the illicit movement of arms and ammunition.
He said the efforts would contribute to strengthening national security and curbing the circulation of illegal arms and ammunition.
The ceremony ended with the formal signing of handover notes and the official transfer of the seized items to the respective agencies.
Officials and representatives of the participating agencies later posed for a group photograph.
Tags: Kebbi Customs, NCS, toxic herbicides, cannabis, ammunition, NAFDAC, NDLEA, NCCSALW, Kebbi State, drug seizure, arms seizure, Nigeria Customs Service
