The Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Lagos deals a bitter blow against smuggling syndicates operating in the South west Zone, in the process recording Seizures of various items worth over N5.5bn, even as the anti-smuggling crackdown seeks to boosts revenue generation of the NCS, as well as protect revenue losses
By Innocent Chukwu
The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ has recorded seizures worth over N5.5 billion in a sweeping anti-smuggling operation that underscored growing efforts to protect Nigeria’s economy from illicit trade and revenue losses.
The development announced in Lagos on Tuesday, May 5, 2025, by the Customs Area Controller (CAC ) of FOU Zone ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, reflected what officials described as an aggressive intelligence-driven strategy aimed at curbing smuggling activities across key commercial corridors in South west Nigeria.
According to Aliyu, the unit intercepted contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦5,504,039,720 within eight weeks of operation highlighting the economic scale of illegal trade activities targeting the nation’s markets.
He explained that the seizures were made across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo states, where Customs operatives disrupted 473 smuggling attempts linked to food products, petroleum items, vehicles, narcotics and other prohibited imports.
Among the major seizures were 8,794 bags of foreign rice equivalent to 15 trailer loads, a development the Customs chief insisted helped prevent unfair market competition against local rice producers.
The Customs anti-smuggling Unit also confiscated 22 used vehicles, 1,863 refrigerator compressors, 328 bales of used clothing, 1,188 kegs of vegetable oil, and 531 cartons of imported poultry products.
Officials further intercepted 31,705 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 485 used tyres, cartons of foreign spaghetti, and bags of imported sugar, all of which violated import regulations.
In a major breakthrough against narcotics trafficking, Customs seized 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis popularly known as “Ghanaian Loud,” weighing 1,540 kilograms.
The anti-smuggling campaign also led to the arrest of a 71-year-old suspect after operatives intercepted a Toyota Highlander vehicle carrying cocaine and methamphetamine valued at approximately ₦2.35 billion.
Aliyu stressed that the seizures demonstrated the increasing sophistication of criminal networks and the urgent need for stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies to dismantle supply chains.
The confiscated narcotics were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA )for investigation and prosecution.
In a separate operation, Customs officers intercepted high-grade mercury cylinders concealed inside a Toyota Avensis vehicle which the CAC can be used for illegal mining operation. He warned that illegal movement of such chemicals posed significant environmental and mining-related risks.
Beyond the record breaking seizures, the FOU Zone ‘A’ operatives also recovered lost revenue of ₦97.7 million through Demand Notices (DN) issued over under-declared imports and unpaid duties, Aliyu said the revenue recovery further boosted government revenue generation drive
Aliyu disclosed that the FOU Zone ‘A’ Command is expanding the use of digital tools such as satellite surveillance, drone monitoring, predictive analytics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to strengthen border enforcement and improve trade compliance.
He added that the planned relocation of the the Command from Lagos to its newly commissioned headquarters in Iperu, Ogun State, would enhance operational efficiency and position Customs to better protect legitimate trade while tightening enforcement against economic sabotage.
