With a strong commitment to intensifying anti-smuggling efforts in the South west zone, Comptroller Kola Oladeji’s Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) makes it clear that 2025 will not be an easy year for smugglers who are bent on sabotaging the nation’s economy
By Edu Abade
The Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed plans to intensify activities that would effectively checkmate smuggling activities in the South west zone, record significant seizures and generate more revenue aimed at boosting the nation’s economy in 2025.
Comptroller in charge of FOU Zone ‘A’, Kola Oladeji, stated this at an end of the year 2024 media briefing in Lagos, saying: “Our commitment at combating smuggling and ensuring maximum compliance to the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 has yielded series of seizures and arrests from January 2024 till date.
“These achievements underscore our determination to protect the Nation’s economy and security against illicit Cross Border Trade and movement around our Borders.”
He told journalists that the command worked relentlessly in 2024 to improve smuggling detection methods, leveraging on intelligence to stay ahead of smugglers and prevent the importation of prohibited and harmful products.
According to him, the newly inaugurated “Operation Swift Sting” has recorded remarkable success in the fight against illicit Cross Border Trade with impressive smuggling with impressive arrest in just two weeks.
“Through this operation, we arrested a significant amount of cannabis Sativa, 4,010 bags of foreign parboiled rice in 50kg bag each, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), along with other contraband items.
“It is clear that “Operation Swift Sting” is delivering unbearable heat to the smuggling cartel at the same time ensuring facilitation of compliant Trade with an impressive outcome.”
Oladeji revealed that no fewer than 94 defendants were arrested in connection with some of the seizures, and six persons have been convicted for various offences, adding: “This demonstrates our quest to bring perpetrators to justice and also ensure deterrence from illicit trade.”
He pointed out that 707 seizures worth a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N18.710 billion were intercepted from January 2024 prominent among which are: 48,912 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each; 191,975 liters of petrol; 7,861kg of Cannabis sativa; 6,168 pieces of dry donkey skins and 37,630 sachets of Tramadol.
Others are 207 units of motor vehicles (some of which were arrested for short payment of duty and later cleared after payment of outstanding duty); 6,755 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products; 1,433 bales of used clothes; 1,773 units of used refrigerator compressors and 317 cartons of illicit pharmaceutical products.
Speaking further, he said: “In addition to the seizures, in 2024 we collected revenue through careful documentary checks and issuance of Demand Notices (DNs) to consignments that were found to have underpaid customs duty from which we generated the sum of N1.012 billion.
“This also underscores the importance of careful monitoring and intelligence at preventing smuggling and ensuring that all imports are properly declared and taxed.
“Smuggling operations that employ ingenious concealment methods could have significant impact on the Nation’s economy and security if not checked with modern intelligence tools. Hence, we urge all citizens to support our anti-smuggling efforts by providing useful and timely information on illicit cross border trade.
Oladeji, who also said the Zone raised awareness about the dangers of smuggling and the importance of complying with Customs regulations, maintained that the FOU Zone A will remain resolute in protecting the nation’s economy, as well as its security and health through coordinated synergy with relevant stakeholders.
“I commend the cooperation and support of all Security Agencies, Media practitioners and other stakeholders, and the general public in providing timely information, support and advice. In the same vein I extend my deepest appreciation to our gallant officers for their unwavering commitment and Service to our country.
“Your unrelenting efforts at preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products, dedication to protecting our nation’s economy and security do not go unnoticed.
“We thank the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management for their support to achieve this great feat. Your effort is making a significant impact in our operations,” he concluded.
