By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, has intercepted prohibited goods, including 3,407.83kg of cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine, with a combined duty-paid value of N6.19bn in four weeks.
The seizures were made during 195 interception operations conducted under the unit’s renewed enforcement strategy.
The Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the unit, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Tuesday during his maiden press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos.
Afeni said the seized narcotics comprised 5,986 parcels of cannabis weighing 3,407.83kg, 400 grammes of cocaine and 100 grammes of methamphetamine.
He listed other seized items to include various quantities of imported rice, 173 cartons of frozen poultry products, 6,949 cartons of smuggled spaghetti, 459 bales and 39 jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, 1,236 used tyres and 8,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Other intercepted products included assorted pharmaceutical items, including codeine syrup, 23,220 new machetes, 1,250 rounds of 12-calibre cartridges, 21 foreign-used vehicles, eight live pangolins and 250 cartons of sardines without registration numbers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“The seized items had a combined duty-paid value of N6.19bn,” Afeni said.
He attributed the interceptions to improved intelligence gathering, surveillance, risk-based examination and stronger collaboration with relevant government agencies.
The Customs chief expressed concern over the seizure of 23,220 new machetes, warning that the items, allegedly smuggled into the country without the required certificates and permits, could pose security risks ahead of upcoming elections.
According to him, the illegal importation of such items could facilitate election-related violence and other criminal activities if not effectively checked.
He said the unit’s enforcement operations were designed not only to protect government revenue but also to prevent the movement of prohibited goods capable of threatening national security.
Afeni also raised concerns over the large quantity of cannabis intercepted, noting that illicit drugs posed serious public health risks, particularly to young people.
He explained that the seizures would help disrupt the supply chains of illegal drugs, deny traffickers proceeds from their activities and prevent the harmful consequences associated with substance abuse.
Beyond the seizures, Afeni disclosed that the unit recovered N683m in revenue between September 30, 2026, and the date of the briefing.
He said the recovery was achieved through compliance checks, scrutiny of import declarations, correction of under-valuation and the issuance of demand notices to importers.
He attributed the revenue recovery to enhanced risk profiling, targeted examination of suspicious declarations, teamwork and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The Customs chief also disclosed that operatives intercepted a 40-foot container with identification number SEGU 5347239, containing 2,760 pieces of office chairs in completely knocked-down form, alongside 11 means of conveyance.
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Afeni assured importers, licensed customs agents and other members of the trading public that the unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while intensifying enforcement against smuggling and other customs-related offences.
He warned that the unit would take firm action against duty evasion, false declarations and activities capable of undermining national security.
He added that the unit had sustained collaboration with several security and regulatory agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Army, NAFDAC and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
According to him, seized narcotics and suspects would be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while other prohibited items would be transferred to relevant agencies in line with their statutory responsibilities.
The latest interceptions underscore the Customs Service’s ongoing enforcement efforts against smuggling, illicit drug trafficking, revenue leakages and the importation of prohibited goods.
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