The Comptroller Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu-led Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is making unprecedented efforts to strengthen the policing of all illegal import and export routes in the South west region in order to decimate smuggling activities across the geopolitical zone
By Edu Abade
In its sustained effort to curb smuggling and drastically reduce economic sabotage in the country, officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have again foiled the smuggling of a sizable number of contrabands into the country.
Newly deployed Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu, who expressed his readiness to combat smugglers and their nefarious activities head on, stated this during his second media briefing on the activities of the Unit on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 in Lagos.
Shuaibu reeled out some of the successes recorded by the Command barely two weeks after his inaugural briefing, saying, “It is pertinent to state that our renewed vigor to fight smuggling and criminalities through intelligence-driven operations has continued to pay off as the resilience and dedication of our operatives have inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs, who are bent on bringing our country to its knees through their nefarious activities.”
Providing details of the Command’s activities under his watch, he said on May 23 and May 24, 2025, its Patrol Teams within Lagos metropolis acting on intelligence, seized two 40ft containers marked MSCU 5295718 and MRSU 5856090 along the Ijora-Olopa and Mile 2 axis, and upon examination, seven Mitsubishi Canters, five Toyota Hiace Buses and three Mini Shuttle Buses all cut up with their parts complete were found with clear intention of evading Customs duties.
He said other items included used bicycles, 312 bales of printed wax, 23 bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders and 30 used flat-screen television set, 65 table top cookers and 31 units of used split air conditioning among others, stressing that the importation of the items contravened schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff (CET).
“Similarly, on May 19, 2025 another patrol team intercepted a Volvo truck which investigation revealed to contain 1,263 pieces of used tyres and other goods. One suspect was also arrested.
“In the same vein, on May 19, 2025, our officers on routine patrol along Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode Expressway in Ogun State intercepted one truck with registration number T24623LA suspected to be conveying uncustomed goods including Bullet Proof vests. Again, the investigation report revealed the content to include some packages of Tramadol.
“Also, on May 26, 2025, through intelligence-driven operations, our men on the Ijebu-Ode patrol team arrested one empty Mercedes Benz truck. Thorough examination of the truck and careful observation by our officers led to uncovering the concealment of Cannabis Sativa (India Hemp) in the compartments of the truck. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure,” he stated.
Comptroller Shuaibu also disclosed that the Unit’s Patrol Teams around the border areas across the six states of the Southwest have intensified surveillance of the borders against unscrupulous elements among Nigerians, resulting in several seizures of rice, Cannabis Sativa, used cars and other goods in the flash points of Imeko, Ilaro, Owode, Idiroko, Ilara, Ihumbo, Abeokuta, Badagry, Agbara, Gbaji, Shaki and Iseyin in Oyo State.
“In all, 46 interceptions were recorded during the two weeks of operations comprising 2,051 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, an equivalent to three (4) trailer loads, 11 used vehicles, 1,665kg of Cannabis Sativa, 4,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), one white and black J5 commercial bus loaded with expired goods and one Volvo Truck containing 180 sacks of new towels.
“Seven suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures, which have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.285 billion. These seizures followed the successes recorded in our anti-smuggling activities just three weeks after I resumed at the Unit on April 23, 2025, which saw seizures of over seven trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice, petrol, vehicles, drugs and narcotics, among others with a DPV of over N1.5 billion,” he further stated.
The Controller stressed that as a lead agency in border security and facilitators of trade, the NCS is not unaware of the need to balance both responsibilities through risk management tools at its disposal.
“We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our operations will spare no efforts in devising different methods to counter us. We assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent on casting aspersions on our officers, who have always paid the ultimate price for the service of their country.
“As criminals get more desperate and daring, we at the FOU Zone ‘A’ will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense against any antics devised by the non-state actors. The NCS will continue to design and implement sustainable programmes aimed at further growing our economy, increasing revenue for the government and encouraging legitimate trade,” he said.
He informed that the seized 1,665kg of Indian hemp was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution of the offenders, insisting that the Command will continue to harness all revenue components under the Unit to recover lost revenue from the evaders.
“Within the two weeks of operations, the Unit recovered N48.340 million through issuance of Demand Notices (DN) from the improper declaration of consignments. When I assumed duty here, we looked at some of our institutional activities which have been relegated to the background and what we could do to boost the morale of our officers.
“We understand that our monthly parades, weekly sporting activities and a conducive working atmosphere were the major concerns. As of today, we have resuscitated the monthly parades and weekly sporting activities.
“I commend our officers for their unwavering dedication, steadfastness, gallantry, and integrity which led to these achievements. I also thank our stakeholders and partners, especially the media, for their reportage,” he concluded.
