Customs FOU A records major successes against smugglers
Omeiza Bilal
The Federal Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced significant achievements in its ongoing fight against smuggling and economic sabotage, barely two weeks after the unit’s latest operational briefing.
Addressing journalists Tuesday at the Unit’s headquarters in Ikeja Lagos, Comptroller Muhammad Shuaibu expressed pride in the dedication and resilience of the officers and personnel.
“Our renewed vigor to fight smuggling and criminalities through intelligence-driven operations has continued to pay off as the resilience and dedication of our operatives has inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs who are bent on bringing our country to its knees through their nefarious activities,” he stated.
Between May 19 and May 26, 2025, Shuaibu disclosed that commission recorded significant interceptions across Lagos and the Southwest region, seizing contraband worth billions of naira and arresting multiple suspects.
Key seizures according to him included two 40-foot containers carrying seven Mitsubishi Canters, five Toyota Hiace buses, and three mini shuttle buses dismantled to evade customs duties.
Other items found in the containers included used bicycles, printed wax, used clothing, gas cylinders, flat-screen televisions, cookers, and split air conditioners.
Customs officers also confiscated 1,263 used tyres from a Volvo truck and arrested one suspect. On the Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode expressway, a truck was intercepted carrying uncustomed goods, including bulletproof vests and packages of Tramadol.
In a separate operation, a suspect was arrested with Cannabis Sativa concealed in an empty Mercedes Benz truck.
Across six Southwest states, multiple seizures of rice, used cars, Cannabis Sativa, and other contraband were made at border flashpoints.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these seizures is estimated at over N1.285 billion, with seven suspects arrested in connection to these operations.
Commitment to Sustained Vigilance and Public Assurance, Shuaibu emphasised the dual responsibility of the Nigeria Customs Service in border security and trade facilitation.
He further noted that the seized 1,665 kg of Cannabis Sativa will be handed over to relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
Also speaking with journalists, Abdul Mayagi, who represented the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos Command, Abubakar Liman Wali, expressed gratitude and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating drug-related crimes.
He stated, “We are here once again, most respectfully to the controller, for you, your management team, for this show of synergy to yet take another arrest being made by your men across the zone.
