In another season of seizures and routing of smugglers in the South west geopolitical zone, the Nigeria Customs’ Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, continues to record massive seizures of foreign parboiled rice, petrol, medicaments and other contraband items worth billions of naira
By Edu Abade
Unrelenting in their efforts to fight smuggling to a standstill and support a thriving, sustainable economy, the Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), led by Assistant Controller General of Customs (ACG) HM Ejibunu and Customs Area Controller (CAC) in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, MS Shuaibu, have made a bold statement that they were not resting on their oars to deliver their mandate in the Service.
Speaking at a media briefing on the activities of the Units from June 3, 2025 to July 18, 2025, at Ikeja, Lagos the Customs top shots said in the past few weeks, efforts to dismantle smuggling syndicates, curb illicit trade and disrupt criminal networks operating within the South west Zone yielded handsome results.
Specifically, Ejibunu explained that in the past four weeks, from June 3, 2025 to July 18, 2025, the FOU Zone ‘A’ sustained a high operational tempo in the southwestern states.
Ejibunu said, “Our intelligence-led operations have enabled us to proactively intercept smuggled goods, disrupt illicit supply chains and strengthen border enforcement. During the period, a total of 102 enforcement interventions were recorded, leading to the interception of a wide range of prohibited and smuggled goods”.
Providing a breakdown of seizures, he disclosed that a summary of the significant items seized during the period include 3,500 bags of 50 kg each of foreign parboiled rice which is equivalent to six trailer loads, 304kg of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp), 7,900 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) stashed in 316 jerry cans of 25 liters each, 54 bags and 20 bales of used clothing, 41 sacks and bags of used footwear, 14 units of used (“Tokunbo”) vehicles, 148 pieces of used tyres, 42 used gas cylinders, 31 units of air conditioning systems, 95 cartons of frozen poultry products.
Other seizures include 1X40FT container with container number TRHU 83907321 fully loaded with used tyres, 1X20FT with container number ONEU241369 containing medicaments. Others are 2X40FT with containers numbers MSKU 4796036, MAEU 9205708, and one truck with container body conveying used fridges, foreign supermarket items and used clothes. All the containers were wrongly declared to evade duties.
Revealing that nine suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, while some were granted administrative bail and others will be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and prosecution, he said a valuation of the seizures pegged their Duty Paid Value (DPV) to N1.784 billion.
Also commending the men and officers’ commitment to professionalism and collaboration, he noted that the Federal Operations Unit remains deeply committed to executing its mandate with the utmost professionalism and in strict adherence to extant regulations.
“Our operations are conducted with restraint, respect for human rights, and a commitment to peaceful enforcement. To enhance synergy and support for our activities, I have embarked on familiarization visits to traditional institutions and sister security agencies across the zone. These visits aim to deepen collaboration in our collective effort to combat trans-border crimes and enhance national security,” Adeniyi said.
While paying tributes to officers and men of the unit, he said the achievements would not be possible without the dedication and courage of our gallant officers, who risk their lives daily to secure our borders and protect the national economy. Their sacrifices are commendable and deserve public recognition.
On revenue recovery through Demand Notices (DNs), he stated, “In addition to our enforcement duties, the Unit also ensures compliance with import and export regulations. We have continued to scrutinize questionable declarations, correct under-valuations, and issue Demand Notices (DNs) where appropriate. Between June 3, 2025 and July 18, 2025, the Unit recovered a total of ₦95.587 million in underpaid duties.”
Further speaking on trade facilitation, he further stated, “While we maintain vigilance against smuggling and fraud, the FOU remains a strong partner in trade facilitation. We continue to support legitimate trade through intelligence-driven operations that strike a balance between security enforcement and economic growth ensuring that lawful traders are not unduly hindered in the process.
“The milestones we’ve recorded are a testament to the Nigerian Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s economy and ensuring national security. We thank you for your continued support and urge the public to report any suspicious activity as we work together to build a safer, more prosperous Nigeria.”
