The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted smuggled goods worth over ₦1.2 billion in six weeks.
Comptroller Mohammed Shu’aibu, head of the unit, announced this during a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
He said the operation covered key border communities in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos States.
The seized items include 5,015 bags of foreign rice, about eight trailer loads, and 15 fairly used vehicles. Customs officers also intercepted 143 bales of second-hand clothes, two jumbo sacks of used shoes, one sack of worn apparel, 390 bottles of codeine, 310 packs of foreign drugs, 19 cards of tramadol, and 210 used tyres.
A 20-foot container, with number ONEU 2419369 FTC, carrying 752 cartons of calcium lactate, was seized for false declaration. Shu’aibu said the total Duty Paid Value of all the items stood at ₦1.188 billion.
He added that officers also confiscated 640 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 431.8 kilograms, and 460 jerrycans of petrol, totaling 11,500 litres.
“These operations show our stronger patrols and surveillance across the region,” Shu’aibu explained. “We are determined to stop smugglers and protect Nigeria’s economy.”
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Customs arrested four suspects linked to the smuggling. They have been handed over to security agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
Between September 1 and October 7, the unit also recovered ₦39.2 million from importers who under-declared or under-valued their goods.
The comptroller reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to supporting legal trade and enforcing customs laws. He reminded traders that the 2016 Federal Government ban on importing foreign parboiled rice through land borders remains in force.
“Smugglers should rethink their actions. Anyone caught will face strict penalties,” Shu’aibu warned.
The seized drugs and cannabis have been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
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Taiwo Kareem, Chief Regulatory Officer at NAFDAC, praised Customs for their vigilance. He revealed that some of the seized drugs had expired between 2001 and 2023.
“These expired drugs are dangerous,” he said. “People should buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies, not roadside sellers.”
Nasir Bungudu, NDLEA Deputy Commander of Narcotics, also commended the collaboration. He promised closer cooperation to fight illegal trade and drug smuggling in the region.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
