The Nigeria Customs Service’s Enforcement Unit condemns unwarranted attacks on its patrol officers in the South west Region, by die-hard smugglers in the course of carrying out legitimate anti-smuggling operations, the attacks result in the killing and wounding of some personnel
By Innocent Chukwu
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Lagos, Comptroller G.I Aliyu, has raised the alarm over the unwarranted attacks on the patrol officers by smugglers who are bent on destroying the economy of the country. The CAC hinted that such attacks often put the lives of the patrol officers in danger. According to him, “Officers work under difficult terrain, they work under life-threatening challenges”.
Comptroller Aliyu regretted that one of such attacks resulted in the killing of one of the personnel, while another sustained life-threatening injuries, and is being treated in an unidentified hospital in Ogun State. However, the Customs Chief insisted that no threats from the economic saboteurs would be able to hinder the Command’s resolve to tackle smuggling headlong.
The FOU Zone ‘A’ leader who spoke on Tuesday February 3, 2026 at the occasion of handing over a total of 329 parcels of Ghanaian Loud to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), regretted that, “We have the seizures, unfortunately we have the deceased”. He disclosed that the seizure of the narcotics followed “Five weeks of diligent hard work by officers to arrest the Ghanaian Loud “.
Receiving a Handover Note from the FOU boss, the NDLEA Commander of Narcotics, Lagos, Mohammed Kabir, said between December 24, 2025 and February 3, 2026, the NDLEA had received over 400 parcels of Cannabis Indica from the Customs FOU Zone ‘A’. According to Kabir, 91 parcels were handed over to his Command on December 24, the February handover contained another 329 parcels. Such interceptions, the NDLEA Chief noted, would disrupt the supply chain of drugs traffickers.
Comptroller Aliyu while addressing the media, said upon assumption of duty at the Command last December he had made a clear commitment to the effect that the Unit would confront smuggling syndicates with renewed vigour, professional discipline, and complete respect for the rule of law and human dignity, an approach he said
“Would be driven by three guiding principles of Change Management, Compliance Management and Reputation Management, guided by inclusivity”.
Following the commitment and renewed
approach, the Command recorded a total interception of 144 smuggling attempts in goods of different brands. The items intercepted included
6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, an equivalent of eleven trailer loads,
77 bags of foreign sugar weighing 50kg each,
21 units of assorted foreign used vehicles,
3,362 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil of 25 litres each,
20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS),
915 bales of used clothings
and 1X 20FT container with number SUDU 7640333, containing 20 pallets of stone coated aluminium roofing sheets.
He said amid the rising criminality in the country, the Command intensified its onslaught against drug trafficking syndicates whereupon it intercepted 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica, otherwise referred to as Ghanaian loud, weighing 1,431kg. “This singular move significantly disrupted the supply chain networks”, Comptroller Aliyu added.
In the course of the operations, the Command lost one of its patrol personnel on the morning of Tuesday February 26, 2026.
“This loss has already been communicated to the Service high Command.
“Drug trafficking fuels these threats by providing chemical catalyst such as Methamphetamine and others that embolden perpetrators, erode morals and destabilize the nation. The effects ripple through public spaces, increase health burdens from addiction related illnesses, with attendant economic losses from youth unemployment among others. Considering the dangers involved in drug usage and its effect on our society, I urge perpetrators of this illicit trade to be patriotic enough to change their ways and embrace legitimate trade or face the consequences of their actions, as our determination is resolute”, the Controller added.
The FOU Zone ‘A’ also seized four live pangolins intercepted along the waterways of Alapa Creek, Ajilete. “The seized endangered species, which are the most endangered mammals in the world, were since handed to the Wildlife Conservation Centre for safekeeping”
“This effort underscores our country’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws and discouraging trade in endangered species”.
There was also Seizure of 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle which signifies an advantage for the environment and public safety. “This move reaffirms our commitment to the Basel Convention (1989). Both Section 55(1), (d) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (2023) & the Basel Convention relate to the control of Trans- boundary hazardous waste movements, to protect developing nations like Nigeria. “Used Compressors often carry hazardous oils, refrigerants, and residues that leach toxins into soil and emit Green House Gases (GHGs) like Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide among others that deplete the ozone layer, if not properly disposed. “Section 55(1), (d) of NCS Act (2023) authorizes the seizure of prohibited imports that threaten the environment. This aligns our laws with international best practice in environmental protection”, Comptroller Aliyu hinted.
A total of eight suspects suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.319 billion was attached to the seized items.
The CAC assured that “The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed in its efforts to combat smuggling, other forms of illicit trade and trans-border crimes”.
The Unit recorded a total revenue of N36.8 million between December 10, 2025 and February 3, 2026 through the issuance of Demand Notices.
