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FOU Zone A intercepts 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods worth ₦3.23 billion in one of its biggest anti-smuggling operations in eight weeks.
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Customs recovers ₦728.9 million lost to under-declaration, false declarations and other revenue fraud, boosting government earnings.
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Thousands of bags of foreign rice, hard drugs, elephant tusks, foreign-used vehicles, frozen poultry, petrol, used clothing and tyres among major seizures.
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The service vows to sustain intelligence-led enforcement, protect local industries, combat wildlife trafficking, facilitate legitimate trade and intensify the crackdown on economic saboteurs.
August 11, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, has recorded one of its biggest anti-smuggling breakthroughs in recent months, intercepting 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3.23 billion, while recovering ₦728.9 million in lost government revenue within eight weeks.
The seizures, which include thousands of bags of foreign rice, illicit drugs, elephant tusks, foreign-used vehicles, petroleum products and other prohibited imports, underscore the Service’s intensified campaign against economic sabotage, smuggling and revenue leakages across the South-West operational corridor.
The Customs Public Relations Officer of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday, describing the achievements as a clear demonstration of the unit’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s economic frontiers through intelligence-driven enforcement operations.
According to him, the operation was anchored on enhanced risk profiling, rigorous compliance checks, intelligence gathering and targeted surveillance of suspicious cargoes and import declarations.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods valued at ₦3.23 billion in Duty Paid Value, while also recovering ₦728.9 million through anti-revenue leakage operations”, Abdullahi stated.
He explained that the enforcement activities reflect the Service’s determination to protect local industries, safeguard government revenue and ensure Nigeria’s trade corridors remain free from prohibited goods.
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Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Abdullahi said officers intercepted 4,956 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to eight trailer loads, in addition to 12 foreign-used vehicles brought into the country in violation of import regulations.
The Command also recorded significant drug seizures, including 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,439.9 kilograms, 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1 kilograms, one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35 kilogram, 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35 kilograms, 240,000 tablets of tramadol, and 12,000 tablets of Hypnox.
Other intercepted items include 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kilograms, highlighting the Service’s efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
Also seized were 964 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing approximately 24,100 litres, 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 686 cartons of imported frozen poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing, 2,947 pieces of used tyres, and several other prohibited goods, all intercepted through intelligence-led operations.
Customs Intensifies Revenue Recovery, Warns Smugglers
Speaking on the achievement, the Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the ₦728.9 million in revenue recovery as a major milestone in the Service’s efforts to block revenue leakages and improve government earnings.
He said the unit remains committed to identifying and recovering revenues lost through under-declaration, false declarations, concealment and other forms of customs fraud.
Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to comply fully with extant customs laws by making honest declarations and conducting legitimate business transactions.
He warned that while the Service would continue to facilitate lawful trade, individuals and companies involved in smuggling and revenue evasion would face decisive enforcement actions.
According to the Comptroller, the seizure of foreign rice, vegetable oil, frozen poultry products, used vehicles and other prohibited imports would strengthen local production, support Nigeria’s food security agenda and protect legitimate businesses from unfair competition.
He noted that the interception of illicit drugs and unregulated pharmaceutical products would help prevent dangerous substances from finding their way into communities, particularly among young Nigerians, thereby safeguarding public health.
Aliyu further stated that the recovery of elephant tusks demonstrates the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to supporting national and global efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
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The Comptroller explained that the unit’s successes were driven by enhanced intelligence gathering, effective risk profiling, improved inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and sustained cooperation from stakeholders, border communities and members of the public.
He assured compliant traders of the Service’s commitment to maintaining a transparent, predictable and business-friendly trading environment, while reiterating that the unit would sustain its zero-tolerance policy against smuggling, customs fraud and other forms of economic sabotage.
Aliyu added that the Federal Operations Unit would continue supporting the Federal Government’s economic agenda by protecting domestic industries, facilitating legitimate trade, boosting revenue generation and preventing the entry of prohibited and harmful goods into the country.
He also appealed to members of the business community and the general public to continue providing credible intelligence to the Service, stressing that collective vigilance remains essential to strengthening border security, improving revenue collection, protecting public health and advancing Nigeria’s economic development.
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