The Nigeria Customs Service, Borno Yobe Area Command, has intercepted 180 bags of psychoactive substances and a consignment of endangered wildlife in separate operations along Kano Road in Maiduguri.
Customs Area Controller, Idris Abdullahi, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command headquarters.
He said operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a vehicle conveying 180 bags of a substance known as Akuskura, with each bag containing about 500 bottles, bringing the total to roughly 90,000 bottles. The items were concealed and disguised as general goods.
In a separate operation, officers also seized endangered wildlife, including two live antelopes, one dead antelope, a porcupine, two civet cats, four eagles, and thirteen tortoises.
Preliminary findings indicate the animals fall under Appendix I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Abdullahi described the seizures as a major boost to ongoing efforts against smuggling, warning that illicit drugs and wildlife trafficking pose threats to public health, security, and biodiversity.
The seized items are to be handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation.
