The Federal Operations Unit , Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made 76 interceptions of smuggled and contraband goods and 8 Containers worth ₦3,144,680,000.00 Duty Paid Value (DPV) in 3 weeks. 13 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
According to the Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu who disclosed this to journalists on 14th August, 2025, the seizures occurred at strategic points across the South-Western states, including Ilaro, Owode, Ajilete, and Imeko-Afon in Ogun State; the Ondo/Ekiti axis; Shaki and Iseyin in Oyo State and the Lagos metropolis.
He added that between 18th July and 12th August 2025, the Unit recovered a total of ₦47,834,397.29 from issued Demand Notices.
Comptroller Shuaibu announced that the smuggled items include 4,068 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each) equivalent to seven trailer loads 22 used (tokunbo) vehicles, including two Ashok Leyland drilling trucks, 485 jerrycans of 25 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) totaling 12,125 litres, 120 bales of used clothing, 57 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 47 cartons of foreign poultry products, 770 jerrycans of 25 litres each of foreign vegetable oil.
He added that the 8 Containers include 4x40ft containers: MSKU-1629585 – Sacks of used shoes and canvas, MSKU-0733723 – Auto spare parts, used tyres, and vehicles , TCNU-9441240 – Furniture, ACLU-9673721 – Spare parts, used tyres, and vehicles , 4x20ft containers, TEMU-4596866 – Furniture, TCLU-3866419 – Furniture, TCKU-3962096 – Furniture, TCKU-1497232 – pali bitters drinks .
In line with the service’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, the seized Cannabis Sativa was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
While the NCS maintains vigilance against smuggling and fraud, the FOU remains a strong partner in trade facilitation.
Comptroller Shuaibu commended the tireless efforts of the operatives of the Unit and reaffirmed it’s steadfast commitment to securing the nation’s borders against all forms of economic sabotage.
“The Federal Operations Unit Zone A (FOU A) has intensified surveillance and enforcement activities across the six states of the South-West geopolitical zone.
“A total of 13 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures. While some have been granted administrative bail, others have been handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“Beyond enforcement, FOU Zone A also plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with import and export regulations.
“We continue to scrutinize questionable declarations, correct under valuations, and issue Demand Notices (DNs) where necessary.
“We continue to support legitimate trade through intelligence-driven operations that strike a balance between security enforcement and economic growth, while ensuring that lawful traders are not unduly hindered in the process.We will not relent in our mission to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s trade environment and protect our economy from illicit trade practices.”, he said.
