The Eastern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N172,497,203 over the past three months, as part of intensified efforts to combat maritime smuggling and economic sabotage along Nigeria’s eastern waterways.
This was disclosed in a press release issued on February 13, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Joshua Iliya.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026, at the Government Warehouse in Calabar, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Anderson Jaja, reaffirmed the Service’s zero tolerance stance on illegal trade within the nation’s territorial waters.
He disclosed that the seizures, made through sustained patrols and intelligence driven operations, included 62 bales of secondhand clothing, 14 sacks of used shoes, 190 used pneumatic tyres and batteries, two flying boats, bicycles, a 20 foot empty container, as well as detergents, creams, wines, juices and other beverages.
Comptroller Jaja said the proactive enforcement strategies adopted by the Command have significantly disrupted smuggling networks operating in the region.
While warning that smuggling would not be tolerated, he emphasised that the ultimate objective of the Command is to promote seamless and lawful trade. He urged business operators in the region to take advantage of trade facilitation platforms introduced by the Comptroller General of Customs, including the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) scheme and the One-Stop-Shop (OSS), designed to fast track clearance processes and reduce regulatory bottlenecks.
The Controller attributed the command’s recent operational successes to the support and leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, noting that the recent acquisition of high performance patrol boats has significantly enhanced surveillance and enforcement capacity across the waterways.
He commended officers and men of the Eastern Marine Command for their dedication and professionalism, pledging sustained collaboration with stakeholders to safeguard the nation’s economic interests and strengthen maritime security.
The Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring that legitimate trade thrives while illegal activities are decisively curtailed in Nigeria’s eastern maritime domain.
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