Customs Boost S/West Anti-Smuggling War
*Afeni’s Presence Destabilizes Economic Saboteurs
News of the presence of Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni as the Customs Area Controller (CAC) in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Lagos, sends negative signals to economic saboteurs and their collaborators operating in the South west region. But in daring moves, Afeni gets set to replicate his conquest of smuggling in Ogun State, around the entire South west zone
By Innocent Chukwu
The deployment of Deputy Comptroller OO Afeni to the Zone A, Lagos, of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is a deliberate move by the management of the Service to boost its strength in eradicating smuggling or at least reduce the illicit trade to its barest minimum. Afeni was handed an opportunity by the Adewale Adeniyi-led management last year, precisely on December 4, 2025, to prove his mettle in Customs administration and leadership when he was lifted from the Compliance Seat at the same FOU Lagos to head the Ogun 1 Customs Command which office is located in the Idiroko Border area of the state. His brief included to ensure that smuggling was arrested in the entire Ogun State axis, recovery of revenues that would have been lost to illicit trade, make the border and its approved routes friendly for business operations and motivate officers to remain patriotic in the discharge of their duties.
There at Idiroko, the success story in the area of suppressing smuggling was likened to that of one-week-one-trouble for illicit traders and economic saboteurs. Officers were highly motivated with such incentives as periodic sporting activities that were unknown to the Command, promotion of unprecedented health and wellness initiatives and leadership qualities that drew out tears from many when news of his latest deployment filtered. It was said that revenue flowed like water from the Ogun 1 Command under the Afeni leadership. The Afeni success story included the generation of N896.5 million revenue, and seizures worth over N14.7 billion Duty Paid Value (DPV).
When Afeni departed the Ogun 1 Command back to the FOU, Ikeja Lagos, it became clear that all forms of economic sabotage associated with international trade across land borders, sea ports and airports would run into troubled waters. Promptly, the acclaimed youthful anti-smuggling specialist, Afeni, swung into action, and there are evidences to prove that it can never be business as usual for illicit business operators, including their collaborators within the Service.
Evidences have begun to emerge how Afeni intends to operate round the clock to make good the intention of eradicating smuggling within the South west Zone.
Barely a week after assumption of duty at FOU Zone A, the Command foiled a wildlife trafficking attempt, rescuing three live pangolins.
Operatives of the Unit seized the animals during an early morning operation near the Oyo Dam in Igbo-Ora, Ogun State.
In a statement by the Unit’s Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Hussein Abdullahi, officers acting on credible intelligence intercepted a sack containing the endangered animals, which were concealed in a wire-mesh cage. Upon sighting the patrol team, the suspected traffickers abandoned the consignment and fled into the surrounding swamp.
Highlighting the seizure as a major victory against smuggling, Deputy Comptroller Oluwaseun Oguntuase, representing Afeni, said the seizure marked a significant milestone in the fight against transnational organised crime.
He commended the team’s swift response, noting that the operation underscored the Unit’s determination to protect Nigeria’s biodiversity and disrupt criminal networks. Pangolins are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and their illegal trade remains a serious threat to wildlife conservation.
The FOU across the nation is regarded as the Policeman of the Customs Service. It is the hub of enforcement operations, trade facilitation with immense oversight functions on other Commands across geo-political zones.
It ensures a lot of checks and balances on devious importers as well as compromised officers in the chain of trade and import businesses.
Credible sources disclosed that since he took over the mantle of leadership, Afeni has declined showing off his glistering teeth in manner of unnecessary smiling due to the enormous task ahead. Similarly, competent sources hinted that he has blocked all the identified smuggling routes in the region, a move that has sent many die-hard smugglers into hiding.
Investigation further revealed that some unpatriotic Releasing Officers at the various Port Commands in Lagos have become wary and now on panic mode because the fear of Afeni is the beginning of wisdom for all who engage in trade malpractices and smuggling.
As the CAC of Ogun 1 Command, the FOU strong man, Afeni, is said to be conversant with the nooks and crannies in the South west where illicit trade thrives.
Even his immediate predecessor, Comptroller Aliyu Gambo now retired, described Afeni as the most competent, most disciplined and most loyal officer capable of policing the entire South west region against smuggling activities against smuggling activities in this dispensation of the NCS. On his part, Afeni has stated that he would pursue intelligence-led enforcement, block revenue leakages and protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests in his new office.
In the meantime, Afeni has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies to combat smuggling, cross-border crimes and other threats to national security, particularly as the country approaches another election period.
He made the call during his familiarisation visits to sister security and law enforcement agencies in Lagos, which commenced on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Afeni’s visitations took him to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja; the Department of State Services (DSS); Headquarters of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Strategic Command; the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); and the 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ikeja.
The visits were aimed at strengthening existing institutional relationships, and to identify practical areas of collaboration in intelligence sharing, joint operations, information exchange and the enforcement of relevant laws across Lagos State and the wider operational jurisdiction of FOU Zone ‘A’.
At the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Afeni was received by the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, where he stressed the importance of coordinated security operations in preventing criminal elements from exploiting the election period to undermine public safety.
“We know that crime rates often increase as the country approaches the election period, as some people may attempt to take advantage of the period to perpetrate illicit activities capable of causing crisis during the elections.
“Therefore, we are here to call for closer synergy so that these bad elements do not have their way,” Afeni told his host.
The Customs chief emphasised that the responsibilities of FOU Zone ‘A’ extended beyond border protection to include collaboration with other security institutions in safeguarding national interests.
He noted that no security agency could effectively discharge its responsibilities in isolation, stressing that sustained cooperation was essential to tackling the increasingly complex nature of criminal activities.
Afeni particularly acknowledged the Nigeria Police Force’s intelligence-gathering capabilities, describing effective information sharing and coordinated operations as critical to achieving better security outcomes.
In his response, CP Fatai welcomed the visitor, describing sustained engagement among security agencies as an established practice that has contributed to their operational successes over the years.
“In Lagos, we have a very strong and robust relationship with all security agencies, notwithstanding the huge population of the state,” the police commissioner said.
The Customs delegation also visited the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division, where Afeni was received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola.
Babalola underscored the importance of joint operations and inter-agency cooperation in combating criminality, while cautioning against unnecessary administrative bottlenecks that could impede operational effectiveness.
The engagement highlighted the need for security institutions to streamline their operational processes, improve coordination and ensure that bureaucratic procedures do not frustrate timely responses to security threats.
Other agencies visited equally reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service in the collective effort to combat smuggling and other unlawful activities.
The familiarisation tour underscored FOU Zone ‘A’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency partnerships as a vital instrument for effective enforcement, national security and economic protection.
Beyond combating smuggling and trans-border crimes, the initiative is expected to reinforce efforts to protect government revenue, facilitate legitimate trade and safeguard Nigeria’s broader economic interests through coordinated security operations. With these moves, many stakeholders said Afeni’s leadership at FOU Zone A will usher in a paradigm shift in Customs anti-smuggling war.
FOU A Records ₦511.4m Seizures
Meanwhile, FOU Zone A has transferred seized illicit drugs and pharmaceutical products valued at ₦511.4 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The handover, which took place on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Unit’s headquarters on Ikeja, Lagos, reinforced ongoing inter-agency efforts to combat drug trafficking and the circulation of potentially harmful pharmaceutical products.
The exhibits comprised 121 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 65.9kg, 100g of crystal methamphetamine, 400g of cocaine, 900g of ground synthetic cannabis, 4.3kg of hybrid cannabis, 86 packs of polythene bags allegedly used to conceal illicit drugs, and 57 cartons of codeine syrup.
Two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna, and two male suspects, each linked to a separate interception, were also transferred to the relevant authorities.
Speaking during the handover, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Oluwaseun Oguntuase, who represented the CAC attributed the seizures to sustained intelligence-led enforcement operations across border corridors, major highways and other strategic locations within the Unit’s area of responsibility.
He disclosed that at about 1300hrs on Saturday, October 10, 2026, a patrol team acting on credible intelligence intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos–Benin Expressway, around Ore in Ondo State. The vehicle was conveying suspected illicit drugs concealed in polythene bags, with subsequent examination and analysis by NDLEA officials confirming the substances.
In another operation conducted at approximately 1407hrs on October 7, 2026, FOU officers intercepted a vehicle along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. A detailed examination revealed 57 cartons of codeine syrup of assorted brands.
Oguntuase noted that the transfer of the seized items to the appropriate agencies reflected the Service’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with law enforcement and regulatory institutions to disrupt the smuggling of controlled substances and prevent the distribution of unwholesome pharmaceutical products.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in its mandate to protect the nation’s borders, safeguard public health and support national security. These seizures and the subsequent handover demonstrate the importance of cooperation among security and regulatory agencies in denying criminal elements the space to operate,” he said.
Receiving the illicit drug exhibits, a suspect and a vehicle on behalf of the Commander of the NDLEA Lagos State Strategic Command, Deputy Commander of Narcotics Ganiyu Bolaji commended the NCS, particularly FOU Zone ‘A’, for its commitment to inter-agency cooperation.
He assured that the NDLEA would handle the transferred exhibits and suspect in accordance with the law, while intensifying its efforts to rid society of illicit drugs.
Similarly, Mrs Edith, Deputy Director in charge of Pharmaceuticals, who received the seized codeine syrup on behalf of NAFDAC’s Director of Enforcement, praised the Unit for the interception and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustained collaboration against illicit and substandard pharmaceutical products.
The FOU A Command reiterated its determination to intensify the fight against economic sabotage, drug trafficking and the smuggling of controlled pharmaceutical products, while continuing to facilitate legitimate trade.
