By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
A major smuggling attempt of illicit pharmaceutical drugs has been thwarted as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Kano/Jigawa Area Command seized over 491,000 tablets of Tramadol hydrochloride, valued at more than N150 million, and handed them over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The seized consignment, branded as Tarmol (USP 225mg), was intercepted along the Gumel–Maigatari axis of Jigawa State during a routine patrol based on credible intelligence. The drugs were hidden in a dark-tinted Lexus SUV, smuggled into the country under the cover of night.
While speaking during the official handover ceremony on Thursday, the Area Controller, Dalhatu Abubakar, said the seizure is part of the command’s sustained operations since he assumed office in February.
“This event is not just about a seizure, but a moment of reflection. These drugs were never meant for countries like ours—they are labeled for export only. The question is: who is consuming them here? Could it be your daughter, your neighbor, your wife?” Abubakar asked.
He described the interception as a clear demonstration of the Customs’ commitment to supporting the vision of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in fighting the menace of drug trafficking through strong inter-agency collaboration.
Highlighting the growing threat of substance abuse in the region, Abubakar revealed that over three million people are estimated to use drugs in the Northwest alone, with Kano State recording a particularly high rate of Tramadol abuse.
“In Kano State alone, with a population of over 14 million, it is estimated that more than 670,000 residents abuse Tramadol. What is even more worrying is that one in every four drug users in Nigeria is a woman,” he said.
He warned that the widespread abuse of drugs like Tramadol is fueling criminality, weakening public health, and threatening national security. Abubakar called for collective action involving religious leaders, traditional institutions, civil society organizations, and government agencies.
“We must come together to confront this crisis before it consumes our future. It is a moral, social, and national duty,” he declared.
The event concluded with the official handover and inspection of the seized drugs by NAFDAC officials.