Barely one month after assuming office as the Customs Area Controller (CAC) in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU ) Zone ‘A’, Lagos, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni and his officers make a bold statement against smuggling and acts that undermine security and public health of citizens by making massive seizures of illicit products worth over N6.194 billion
By Edu Abade
With eyes fixed on carrying out the mandates of revenue generation, enhancing country’s economic development, securing lives and property and safeguarding the public health of Nigerians, the leadership of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU ‘A’) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under Deputy Comptroller OO Afeni hits the ground running by destabilizing die-hard smugglers and making massive seizures of illicit products that would have been allowed to get into the nation’s markets
Speaking during his maiden media briefing at the FOU Zone ‘A’ headquarters,Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Deputy Controller Afeni informed that the Unit impounded numerous smuggled items including exotic cars, illicit drugs, foreign parboiled rice, used tyres and other products.
His words, “This engagement is important because the media remains indispensable partners in public enlightenment, accountability, and national service. Your work helps citizens understand the significance of Customs operations, the dangers of smuggling, and the collective responsibility we all share in protecting Nigeria’s economy, and security of our people.
“The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, carries a critical mandate: to suppress smuggling, protect government revenue, enforce Customs laws, and safeguard Nigeria’s economic and security interests across its areas of responsibility. Also to ensure that Customs formations across our AoR perform their duties in conformity with laid down laws, guidelines and procedures.
“On my assumption of office, we streamlined and coordinated internal processes, prioritized intelligence-driven enforcement, improved surveillance, risk-based examination, and stronger cooperation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders. Our approach is simple: we will act professionally, enforce the law firmly, protect legitimate trade, and ensure that those who seek to undermine the nation’s economy are made to face the consequences of their actions.”
Speaking further, Afeni said under its renewed operational strategy, operatives of the Unit have recorded significant successes in the interception of prohibited and unwholesome goods, adding that within four weeks of rigorous enforcement operations, the Unit intercepted and thwarted 195 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and restricted items, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦6,194 billion.
According to DC Afeni, operatives of the Unit, who acted on intelligence intercepted 3,028 bags of rice of 50kg each, 995 bags of 25kg rice, 104 bags of 20kg and 207 bags of 5kg rice.
Other items seized by the FOU Zone A within the period under review included
5,986 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and Indica weighing 3,407.83kg; 173 Cartons of Imported Frozen Poultry Product; 6,949 Cartons of Smuggled Spaghetti; 459 Bales, and 39 Jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing; 1,236 pieces of Used tires; 33 pieces of used rims and 8,025 litres of fuel.
Yet, the Command seized other items as 57 cartons, 37 packs and 6 pieces of Codeine Syrup; 20 Cartons of Couscous; 23,220 pieces of new machetes; 101 bags of Imported Sugar of 50kg each; 8 bags of imported Creamer powdered milk 25kg each; 12 bags of Grain oat products 25kg each; 1×40 Ft Container No. SEGU 5347239 containing 2,760pcs of Office chairs in Complete Knock Down (CKD) status, 400 grams of Cocaine; 8 Live Pangolins; 100 grams of Methamphetamine; 1,250 12-Calibre Cartridges of Red Star Brand; 250 Cartons of Lotus Sardine (No NAFDAC Number); 21 Foreign Used Vehicles (Tokunbo) and 11 means of conveyance.
“These seizures go beyond mere statistics, but represent revenue recovered for the Federation, local industries protected, and lives saved from dangerous and substandard goods. We will not measure our success by how much we seize, but by how much harm we prevent. The volume of Cannabis on display is of grave concern when considered alongside the World Drug Report 2025 issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) where Cannabis remains the most available and widely used drug, while simultaneously accounting for an estimated 42 percent of drug use disorder cases worldwide.
“Increasingly-potent cannabis strains including the variety popularly marketed as Colorado have destroyed otherwise promising futures among young people. The effect goes beyond individual users to include disruption of families, fueling of social vices, and placing considerable strain on our healthcare system. This interception deals a blow to availability, illegal proceeds of sale, and use of these products with the attendant diverse and adverse effects averted,” DC Afeni stated.
He also said the 23,220 pieces of new machetes being smuggled into the country without requisite certificates and permits could easily be deployed towards disrupting peaceful elections in a couple of months, adding that “Election violence is rarely an isolated incident but facilitated and aided by smuggling activities like the one thwarted by our operatives.”
Afeni further explained that the Nation’s economic security remain central to the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service, maintaining that In line with this priority, the Unit has strengthened compliance checks, heightened scrutiny of Declarations, corrected under-valuations, and issued Demand Notices where necessary. From September 30, 2026 to date, the Unit recovered ₦683,661million.
“Enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted examination of questionable declarations, teamwork, professionalism, and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders have all been deployed in achieving this feat.
“We assure importers, licensed Customs agents, and members of the trading public that the Unit will continue to distinguish between legitimate trade and fraudulent practices. We will facilitate compliant trade, but we will not tolerate attempts to evade duties, falsify declarations, or undermine national security.
“No enforcement agency can succeed in isolation. The complexity of modern trans-border crime demands coordinated action, timely intelligence sharing, and joint operational planning. The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, has therefore, sustained productive collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Army, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and other relevant agencies,” he said.
He stressed that the Unit would continue to deepen these relationships through intelligence sharing, joint operations, capacity building, and coordinated enforcement, adding.
“Our collective objective remains clear: to dismantle criminal networks, protect our borders, secure our communities, and defend the national economy, while appealing to all stakeholders and members of the public to support the fight against smuggling.
“Smuggling thrives where it is tolerated, protected, or ignored. Every citizen has a role to play by reporting suspicious activities, and supporting lawful trade. To economic saboteurs and unpatriotic individuals, our message is clear: the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, will remain vigilant. We will continue to disrupt your networks, intercept your consignments, and ensure that
the full weight of the law is applied where appropriate.
“I commend the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and management of the Nigeria Customs Service, for the confidence reposed in me by appointing me to lead the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’. I am deeply grateful for the policy direction, guidance and support extended to me.
“To my officers, I commend your courage, professionalism and commitment. Your sacrifices, often under difficult operational conditions, continue to produce tangible results for the nation. The successes recorded so far are encouraging, but they are not a reason for complacency.
“They are a call to greater commitment. Under my watch, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, will remain resolute in its fight against smuggling, committed to revenue protection and dedicated to professional, transparent and intelligence-led Customs operations. Together, we will continue to serve Nigeria with integrity, courage and dedication,” he concluded.
