Kano traffic agency intercepts trucks conveying alcoholic drinks

The Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has intercepted two trucks transporting 410 cartons and 4,920 bottles of beer during a night patrol within the Kano metropolis.

Faisal Mahmud, Managing Director of KAROTA, said operatives flagged down the trucks along major streets after observing suspicious movements.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Kano, he explained that the consignments were headed to various distribution points in the city, adding that the interception aligns with the agency’s mandate to monitor and report activities that may threaten public safety.

Read also: Global Rights decries Hisbah arrest of Ramadan violators in Kano

Mahmud noted that KAROTA will intensify surveillance efforts to prevent the circulation of intoxicants considered harmful to public health. He said the seized items have been handed over to the Hisbah Board for further action.

According to him, the trucks—carrying over 400 cartons and nearly 5,000 bottles of beer—were intercepted as part of routine patrols aimed at identifying suspicious movements.

Receiving the consignment, Sani Nasidi, chief superintendent, who represented the Hisbah Commander-General, praised KAROTA for its timely intervention and reaffirmed the board’s commitment to curbing the entry of prohibited goods into the state.

He disclosed that the confiscated drinks will be processed according to established procedures before their eventual destruction, emphasizing continued collaboration with KAROTA to prevent the inflow of intoxicants into Kano.

In recent times, authorities in Kano have intensified their crackdown on prohibited substances. The Hisbah Board, which enforces Sharia-related moral codes, took custody of the seizure on Thursday.

Kano State operates under an expanded interpretation of Sharia law, which prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol among Muslims. Enforcement responsibilities in this regard are shared by two key agencies: KAROTA and the Hisbah Corps.

Although primarily a traffic management body, KAROTA also supports security agencies by identifying and reporting suspicious vehicular activities, especially those involving the transportation of prohibited goods.

The Hisbah Corps, responsible for upholding Islamic principles in public life, undertakes activities such as confiscating alcohol and intoxicants, shutting down illegal distribution networks, and conducting social and moral campaigns.

Seizures of alcoholic beverages are common in Kano due to the ban on alcohol in the predominantly Muslim state. The latest interception reflects ongoing collaborative efforts between KAROTA and Hisbah to curb smuggling and enforce Sharia-compliant regulations.

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