The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 195 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and restricted goods valued at ₦6,194,695,947.05 in just four weeks of intensified enforcement operations.
Acting Comptroller Oladapo Afeni disclosed this on Tuesday during his maiden press briefing since assuming office, held in Ikeja, Lagos. He said the seizures form part of a renewed strategy prioritising intelligence-driven enforcement, improved surveillance, risk-based examination, and closer collaboration with other agencies.
“These seizures go beyond mere statistics, but represent revenue recovered for the Federation, local industries protected, and lives saved from dangerous and substandard goods,” Afeni stated. “We will not measure our success by how much we seize, but by how much harm we prevent.”
Major seizures
The intercepted items include:
Imported rice: 3,028 bags of 50kg, 995 bags of 25kg, 104 bags of 20kg, and 207 bags of 5kg
Cannabis sativa and indica: 5,986 parcels weighing 3,407.83kg
Imported frozen poultry: 173 cartons
Smuggled spaghetti: 6,949 cartons
Second-hand clothing: 459 bales and 39 jumbo sacks
Used tyres: 1,236 pieces; used rims: 33 pieces
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS): 8,025 litres
Codeine syrup: 57 cartons, 37 packs and 6 pieces
Couscous: 20 cartons
New matchets: 23,220 pieces
Imported sugar: 101 bags of 50kg
Creamer powdered milk: 8 bags of 25kg
Grain oat products: 12 bags of 25kg
One 40-foot container (SEGU 5347239) containing 2,760 pieces of office chairs in completely knocked-down (CKD) form
Cocaine: 400 grams
Live pangolins: 8
Methamphetamine: 100 grams
12-calibre cartridges (Red Star brand): 1,250
Lotus sardine (without NAFDAC number): 250 cartons
Foreign used vehicles (tokunbo): 21
Means of conveyance: 11
Afeni expressed particular concern over the large volume of cannabis seized, noting that the 2025 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report identifies cannabis as the most widely available and used drug globally, accounting for an estimated 42% of drug-use disorder cases. He warned that potent strains, including those marketed as “Colorado,” continue to destroy young lives, disrupt families, fuel social vices and strain the healthcare system.
He also highlighted the seizure of 23,220 new matchets, which were being smuggled without the required certificates and permits. The items, he said, could have been used to disrupt peaceful elections in the coming months, stressing that election violence is often facilitated by such smuggling activities.
Revenue recovery
In addition to the seizures, the unit recovered ₦683,661,304.05 through strengthened compliance checks, heightened scrutiny of declarations, correction of under-valuations and the issuance of demand notices between 30 September 2026 and the date of the briefing.
Afeni assured legitimate importers, licensed customs agents and the trading public that the unit would continue to facilitate compliant trade while remaining firm against duty evasion, falsified declarations and threats to national security.
Inter-agency collaboration
The Acting Comptroller emphasised that modern trans-border crime requires coordinated action. FOU Zone ‘A’ has sustained collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Army, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and other relevant bodies.
Seized narcotics and suspects will be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while other prohibited items will be transferred to the appropriate agencies in line with their mandates.
Call to the public
Afeni appealed to stakeholders and the general public to support the fight against smuggling by reporting suspicious activities and patronising lawful trade. He warned economic saboteurs that the unit would remain vigilant, disrupt their networks and ensure the full weight of the law is applied.
He expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for the confidence reposed in him.
He also commended the courage, professionalism and commitment of officers of FOU Zone ‘A’, noting that the successes recorded so far call for even greater dedication rather than complacency.
“Under my watch, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, will remain resolute in its fight against smuggling, committed to revenue protection, and dedicated to professional, transparent, and intelligence-led Customs operations,” Afeni said.
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