By Seun Ibiyemi
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 N3.24 billion.
The Unit also recovered N728.98 million in revenue through intelligence-led enforcement operations targeting under-declaration, false declarations and other forms of customs fraud.
According to a statement signed by the Unit’s Customs Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi, the seizures demonstrate the NCS’s renewed efforts to protect government revenue, support local industries and prevent the circulation of prohibited goods.
Among the items intercepted were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads, as well as 12 foreign-used vehicles.
The Unit also seized significant quantities of illicit drugs, including 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis 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.
Other seizures included 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, and 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 24,100 litres.
The enforcement operation also resulted in the interception of 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 items.
The Comptroller of FOU ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, described the N728.98 million revenue recovery as encouraging, stressing that the Unit would continue to identify and recover revenue lost through customs fraud.
Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to make accurate declarations and comply fully with existing customs laws and regulations.
He said the Unit remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade while taking decisive action against smugglers and businesses involved in revenue evasion.
The Comptroller said the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles, clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries, strengthen food security and safeguard government revenue.
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He added that the seizure of illicit drugs and unregulated pharmaceutical products would contribute to protecting public health, particularly among young Nigerians, while the recovery of elephant tusks supports efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
Aliyu attributed the seizures and revenue recovery to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration and intelligence fusion, as well as cooperation from stakeholders and members of the public.
He assured compliant traders that the NCS would continue to promote a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment, but warned that the Unit would maintain a zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other forms of economic sabotage.
The NCS said the latest enforcement drive formed part of its broader commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives by protecting domestic production, promoting compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing the entry and circulation of prohibited and harmful goods.
