Customs FOU ‘A’ Busts ₦3.24bn Smuggling Network, Recovers ₦729m Revenue

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3.24 billion, while recovering ₦728.98 million in revenue.
The seizures, recorded through intelligence-led enforcement operations, followed enhanced risk profiling, compliance checks and targeted interventions against suspected smuggling, under-declaration and other forms of customs fraud.
Among the items intercepted were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis (Sativa) weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg; and 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg.
The Unit also seized 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, and 24,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) contained in 964 jerrycans. Other seized items included 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 pieces of used tyres, among other prohibited goods.
Speaking on the seizures, the Comptroller of FOU ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, described the revenue recovery as encouraging, stressing that the Unit would intensify efforts to identify and recover government revenue lost through under-declaration, false declarations and other customs-related fraud.
Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to make accurate declarations and comply fully with extant customs laws and regulations.
He, however, assured compliant traders that the Unit remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade, while warning that individuals and businesses involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other forms of economic sabotage would face decisive enforcement action.
According to the Comptroller, the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, foreign-used vehicles, used clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries, support national food security and safeguard legitimate government revenue.
He added that the seizure of illicit drugs, unregulated pharmaceutical products and controlled substances would contribute to protecting public health and curbing the circulation of harmful substances, particularly among young Nigerians.
The recovery of elephant tusks, he noted, also reinforces the Customs Service’s contribution to the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking and efforts to protect endangered species.
Aliyu attributed the Unit’s latest enforcement successes to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration and the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.
He reiterated that the Service’s enforcement strategy would continue to balance robust border protection with trade facilitation, assuring compliant businesses of a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment.
The Comptroller warned that FOU ‘A’ would sustain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and economic sabotage, while calling for stronger cooperation from the business community, border communities and the general public.
He stressed that sustained compliance, vigilance and timely intelligence remain critical to consolidating the gains recorded in revenue recovery, border protection, public safety and national economic development.