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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, has intercepted smuggled and prohibited goods valued at N6.19 billion in four weeks, while recovering N683.66 million in additional revenue through intensified compliance checks and enforcement operations.
DC Oladapo Afeni, Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone ‘A’, disclosed this on Tuesday during his maiden press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, noting that the seizures involved 195 smuggling attempts across the unit’s area of responsibility.
The seizures, with a Duty Paid Value of N6,194,695,947.05, included 3,028 bags of 50kg imported rice, 6,949 cartons of smuggled spaghetti, 173 cartons of frozen poultry products, 101 bags of imported sugar and 21 foreign-used vehicles.
Other intercepted items included 3,407.83kg of cannabis, 400g of cocaine, 100g of methamphetamine, 1,250 cartridges, 23,220 new matchets, 8,025 litres of petrol, used tyres, second-hand clothing and pharmaceutical products.
Afeni said the seizures underscored Customs’ role in protecting government revenue, safeguarding local industries and preventing dangerous goods from entering the country.
He expressed particular concern over the interception of 23,220 new matchets allegedly smuggled without the required certificates and permits, warning that such items could be used to disrupt peaceful elections in the coming months.
On revenue protection, the Comptroller said the unit recovered N683,661,304.05 between September 30 and November 3, 2026, through enhanced risk profiling, scrutiny of import declarations, correction of under-valuations and issuance of demand notices.
He said the unit had strengthened intelligence-driven enforcement, surveillance and risk-based examination while improving collaboration with other government agencies.
Afeni assured importers and licensed customs agents that the unit would facilitate legitimate trade while firmly addressing duty evasion, false declarations and activities that threaten national security.
He added that seized narcotics and suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for investigation and prosecution, while other prohibited goods would be transferred to relevant agencies.
The Comptroller reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to dismantling smuggling networks, protecting Nigeria’s borders and defending the national economy through professional and intelligence-led operations.
