LAGOS — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods valued at ₦3.24 billion across the South-West, including illicit drugs, foreign rice, vehicles, poultry products and wildlife items.
The Comptroller of the unit, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed the seizures in Lagos, saying the operation also resulted in the recovery of ₦729 million in government revenue.
Aliyu said the seizures followed enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, compliance checks and targeted operations against suspicious declarations and smuggling activities.
Among the intercepted items were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; and a parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.
The operation also yielded 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg and 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, as well as 12,000 tablets of Hypnox.
Other seized items included 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 24,100 litres, 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres.
Aliyu said the seizures reflected the unit’s determination to disrupt smuggling networks, protect legitimate businesses and safeguard government revenue.
He attributed the operation’s success to improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and cooperation from members of the public and other stakeholders.
The Customs commander said the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles, clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries and support Nigeria’s food security objectives.
He said the seizure of illicit drugs, pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances was equally significant because of the potential risks such substances pose to public health, particularly among young Nigerians.
Aliyu also highlighted the recovery of elephant tusks, saying it demonstrated the Customs Service’s role in efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
On revenue, he described the ₦729 million recovery as encouraging and said the unit would continue to pursue revenue lost through under-declaration, false declarations and other customs-related fraud.
The Comptroller said enforcement operations would continue alongside efforts to facilitate legitimate trade, assuring compliant traders of the Service’s commitment to a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment.
He, however, warned that the unit would maintain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other activities considered economic sabotage.
