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The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A (FOU A) of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized contraband and intercepted wrongly-declared goods worth over N3.14 billion in a sweeping anti-smuggling operation across the South-West in the past three weeks.
Comptroller of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, while briefing journalists in Lagos on Thursday, said the interceptions were achieved through intelligence-driven operations spanning six states in the geopolitical zone.
He noted that the clampdown underscores the service’s resolve to protect Nigeria’s economy and dismantle smuggling networks.
The seizures include; 4,068 bags of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to seven trailer loads; 22 used vehicles, among them two Ashok Leyland drilling trucks; 485 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit totalling 12,125 litres; 120 bales of used clothing; 57 parcels of Cannabis Sativa; 47 cartons of frozen poultry products; and 770 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil.
Also impounded were eight containers loaded with wrongly-declared cargo in an attempt to evade duty payments. The breakdown shows four 40-foot containers loaded with used shoes, auto spare parts, tyres, vehicles and furniture, and four 20-foot containers containing furniture and alcoholic beverages.
“These seizures were recorded at strategic locations including Ilaro, Owode, Ajilete, and Imeko-Afon in Ogun State; the Ondo/Ekiti axis; Shaki and Iseyin in Oyo State; and parts of Lagos metropolis,” the FOU Zone A Comptroller said.
A total of 13 suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling incidents. While some have been granted administrative bail, others have been handed over to security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Comptroller Shuaibu disclosed that the seized Cannabis Sativa will be transferred to the relevant authorities for further action, in line with inter-agency collaboration aimed at curbing the trafficking of illicit substances.
He added that between July 18 and August 12, the Unit recovered N47.83 million in revenue through the issuance of Demand Notices to importers and exporters involved in questionable declarations, under-valuation, and other infractions.
“Our operatives are not only intercepting smuggled goods but also ensuring compliance with import and export regulations. We strike a balance between enforcement and facilitating legitimate trade so that law-abiding traders are not unduly hindered,” he stated.
The Comptroller commended the dedication of his officers and reaffirmed the Unit’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders and shielding the economy from economic saboteurs.
“We will not relent in confronting those whose actions threaten national security and undermine fiscal policies,” Shuaibu said.
He also appealed to the public to report suspicious activities to the Nigeria Customs Service, assuring that cooperation between the agency, stakeholders, and the media is key to building a safer and more secure Nigeria.
