The Kano State Hisbah Board has intercepted a significant consignment of alcoholic beverages being transported into the state from Lagos, leading to the arrest of the vehicle's driver. The operation, confirmed on Tuesday, underscores the ongoing enforcement of regulations against alcohol in the northern state.
Intelligence-Led Operation in Fagge
Acting on specific intelligence reports, operatives from the Hisbah Board's Fagge patrol command moved swiftly to stop the vehicle. Deputy Commander-General of the Board, Mujahideen Aminuddeen, revealed that the information indicated the consignment was en route from Lagos to Kano.
The officials successfully seized the shipment, which contained approximately thirteen packs of assorted alcoholic drinks. Investigations immediately pointed to a woman based in Lagos as the sender of the prohibited goods.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigations
The driver of the intercepted vehicle is now in custody, assisting the Hisbah Board with its ongoing investigations. Authorities are actively working to apprehend the Lagos-based sender of the alcoholic beverages.
In his statement, Deputy Commander-General Aminuddeen made a public appeal. He urged community members to report any activities that violate accepted social norms or the provisions of Islamic law, emphasizing that such cooperation is vital for the effectiveness of the Hisbah's operations.
A Pattern of Enforcement Across the North
This seizure is not an isolated incident. It follows closely on the heels of a major operation on December 11, where the Kano State Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) intercepted and handed over three truckloads of beer to the Hisbah Board.
That earlier seizure involved vehicles carrying four hundred and ten cartons of alcoholic beverages, valued at millions of naira. The vehicles were also impounded.
"This demonstrates the continued commitment of both the Hisbah Board and related agencies to enforcing regulations and curbing the circulation of alcohol in the state," Aminuddeen stated, linking the two events.
The enforcement wave extends beyond Kano. Just days ago, in neighbouring Katsina State, the Hisbah Board carried out the public destruction of confiscated alcoholic beverages in Bakori town, Funtua Local Government Area.
That exercise, supervised by Deputy Commander Bashir Lawal Balarabe, was described by the Board's Information Officer, Abdul Baki Mustapha, as part of efforts to curb activities contravening Islamic teachings and to safeguard societal moral values.
These coordinated actions highlight a broader regional effort across northern Nigeria, where state Hisbah boards are actively intercepting and destroying alcoholic beverages in line with local regulations and religious principles.
