The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), restates that it will not condone the activities of smugglers capable of undermining and sabotaging the nation’s economy in the South West states
By Edu Abade
In a bid to curb the nefarious activities of smugglers in the South West region of Nigeria, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has again, restated its commitment towards intensifying the border surveillance in the states within the zone.
Speaking on the activities of the unit from the recent briefing to date at a media briefing in Lagos on March 26, 2025, Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Kola Oladeji, said it was gratifying to note that the operations of men and officers of the unit resulted in yet another milestone in the history of the Unit.
In his words: “The operatives of FOU ‘A’ has intensified surveillance of our borders within the south-western states of Nigeria. These onslaught against the activities of economic saboteurs in areas of the service key performance indicators (KPIs) which includes revenue generation, suppression of smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade have continued to record significant successes through our on-going operations code named: Swift Sting Operations and efforts of other patrol teams.
During the period under review, the unit recorded milestones in its anti-smuggling operations. Some of the landmarks achievements comprising 82 interceptions including 3, 832 units of 50KG bags each of foreign parboiled rice, an equivalent to seven trailer loads; 27 units of used vehicles also known as tokumbo vehicles; 494 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 14,820 litres; 27 bales of used clothing; 95 bags of charcoal and 3,643kg of cannabis sativa, while six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.”
He explained that the seizures have a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.720 billion and that the successes recorded so far this year were not made on a platter of gold, adding: “It took the painstaking efforts of our officers who spent hours on patrol and surveillance of our borders to achieve these seizures. Let me reiterate that we will not relent on our oars.
“Our resolve commitment to tame the activities of illegal trans-border trade and other crime remains sacrosanct. The unit will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate members of the public on socio-economic implication of smuggling as well as performing statutory function of enforcing compliance in line with government fiscal policy.”
In line with the dictates of the Nigeria Customs Service of promoting inter-agency cooperation and synergy, the seized 3,643kg of cannabis sativa will be handed over to the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.
Controller Oladeji, who revealed that the unit recovered N72.442 million through issuance of Demand Notices (DN) as a result of irregular declaration of consignments, maintained that the unit will continue to enforce the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as it relates to import and export goods to prevent revenue losses.
On trade facilitation, he explained that since assuming office, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, rolled-out a number of trade facilitation tools to help boost revenue collection capacity of the Service and further develop the country’s economy.
“Trade facilitation tools such as Time Release Study (TRS), Advance Ruling and the recently launched Authorize Economic Operator (AEO) have increasingly boost investors confidence and efficiency of customs operations.
“On our part, the FOU Zone ‘A’ has since keyed into the CGC Adeniyi’s laudable initiatives by collapsing some patrol teams operating within Lagos metropolis with the aim of removing unnecessary trade impediments and facilitating business friendly environment.
“We appreciate the collaborative efforts of other sister agencies in the fight against smuggling and appeal for their continuous support and we thank the CGC and his management team, officers and men of the Unit, community leaders and partner government agencies who are showing concern and collaborating with the service for the continuous support. We also thank the media for their objective reportage on our operations,” he concluded.
