FOU Zone A seizes rice, illicit drugs, vehicles, poultry products and elephant tusks in intelligence-led operations……
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a total duty-paid value of ₦3.24 billion.
The unit also recovered ₦728.98 million in lost revenue through its enforcement operations targeting under-declaration, false declarations and other customs-related fraud.
The seizures, according to the NCS, were the result of intelligence-led operations, enhanced risk profiling and targeted interventions against suspicious consignments moving through the zone.
The latest enforcement drive underscores the Customs Service’s efforts to protect domestic industries, prevent revenue leakage and stop prohibited goods from entering the Nigerian market.
Among the goods intercepted were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg and equivalent to eight trailer loads.
Customs officers also seized 12 foreign-used vehicles, 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,439.9kg, 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg and a parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.
Other narcotics and controlled substances recovered included 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg, 240,000 tablets of Tramadol and 12,000 tablets of Hypnox.
The operation also led to the interception of 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, reinforcing the role of the Customs Service in efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
Other seized goods included 24,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, packed in 964 25-litre jerrycans, as well as 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil containing four 5-litre units each.
Customs also intercepted 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres, among other prohibited items.
The Comptroller of Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, described the revenue recovery as encouraging and said the unit would continue to pursue customs fraud responsible for government revenue losses.
Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to ensure that their declarations are accurate and comply fully with applicable customs laws and regulations.
He said the unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while taking firm action against businesses and individuals involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other forms of customs fraud.
According to him, the objective is not only to seize prohibited goods but also to identify revenue that should have accrued to the government but was lost through fraudulent declarations and other irregularities.
The Customs Service said the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles, clothing and tyres would help protect domestic producers from unfair competition created by the illegal importation of restricted goods.
The seizures are also expected to support the government’s broader objectives around food security, domestic production and revenue generation.
The unit said the interception of illicit drugs, unregulated pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances was equally important because of the potential threat such products pose to public health.
The large quantity of narcotics recovered during the operations, it added, was particularly significant given concerns over the impact of illicit substances on young Nigerians.
The recovery of elephant tusks also highlights the wider environmental and security implications of illegal cross-border trade, with Customs supporting efforts to curb wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
Despite the scale of the seizures, Aliyu said the enforcement drive was not intended to obstruct legitimate commerce.
He said the unit was pursuing a balance between effective border enforcement and trade facilitation, with compliant businesses expected to benefit from a more predictable and transparent trading environment.
The comptroller attributed the recent results to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, collaboration with other government agencies and the integration of information from different sources.
He also acknowledged the contribution of traders, stakeholders, border communities and members of the public whose information has supported the unit’s enforcement activities.
Aliyu assured compliant businesses that the Customs Service remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining what he described as a zero-tolerance approach to smuggling and revenue fraud.
The Customs Service said it would continue using the Federal Operations Unit to support the government’s economic objectives by protecting domestic production, improving compliance and preventing prohibited and harmful goods from entering the country.
Aliyu called for greater cooperation from the business community and the general public, saying sustained vigilance and compliance would be critical to maintaining the gains recorded in revenue recovery and border enforcement.
He also thanked sister government agencies and other stakeholders for their continued support of Customs operations.
The latest seizures come as the NCS intensifies its use of intelligence and risk-based enforcement to tackle smuggling and customs revenue leakages.
With goods valued at more than ₦3.2 billion intercepted and nearly ₦730 million in revenue recovered, the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ said it would maintain pressure on smugglers and importers involved in customs violations while keeping legitimate trade channels open.
