The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered seized hard drugs dating back over three decades during a routine clearance and renovation exercise at one of its operational warehouses in Kano.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this while addressing journalists during an inspection of the warehouse, which has been in use since the 1980s.
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According to him, officers were clearing and renovating the facility when they discovered a locked cabinet that had been transferred from one generation of Customs officers to another, with no record of the key or its contents.
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He said the discovery was immediately reported to him in Abuja, prompting directives to ensure safety before opening the cabinet.
“The first thing we did was to ensure that the contents were not explosive. Our colleagues from the Nigerian Police carried out tests and confirmed that it was not explosive”
Following clearance, the cabinet was forced open, revealing hard drug seizures made in 1986 and 1987 which had been kept in storage since their interception.
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The Comptroller-General revealed that the items recovered included:Cannabis sativa: Six blocks and three slabs, weighing a total of 16.4 kilograms, which tested positive and were marked as exhibits.
“Quinal barbitone sodium capsules, a total of 52,168 capsules weighing 14.6 kilograms. Preliminary tests were inconclusive, but forensic analysis suggests the substances are not ordinary capsules, Permuline tablets and Heroine”
The Comptroller-General confirmed that the substances were tested in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“These seizures were made long before the establishment of NDLEA. At the time, Customs retained custody of such exhibits because the agency responsible today did not yet exist,”
Receiving the drugs, the controller of NDLEA Kano strategic command, Dahiru Yahaya Lawal, represented by Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Operations and Training, Bello Garba Jabo, explained that the exhibits had remained securely stored for more than 30 years, free from tampering or exposure.
“This happened over three decades ago. While our exhibit management has improved significantly over the years, it is instructive that these items were preserved safely even before NDLEA was established,”
He added that the Service has now formally transferred custody of the recovered drugs to NDLEA for further investigation, testing, and appropriate action.
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Officials of the NDLEA present at the event commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its diligence and cooperation, noting that the handover would support ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the country.
The Comptroller-General reiterated Customs’ commitment to transparency, proper exhibit management, and collaboration with sister security agencies to protect public health and national security.