Smugglers suffer heavy loss of N3.1bn goods to Customs in 3 weeks
Smugglers operating across the South-West have suffered heavy losses after the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted contraband valued at over N3.145 billion within three weeks.
Comptroller of FOU Zone A, Ikeja, Mohammed Shuaibu, disclosed this in Lagos while briefing journalists on the Unit’s intensified anti-smuggling operations.
He said the seizures, made between July 18 and August 12, followed heightened surveillance and intelligence gathering by customs operatives.
According to him, a total of 76 interceptions were recorded, ranging from seven trucks of foreign parboiled rice to used vehicles, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), vegetable oil, used clothing, cannabis, and poultry products.
The breakdown includes 4,068 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to seven trailer loads), 22 used vehicles, including two Ashok Leyland drilling trucks, 485 jerrycans of PMS totaling 12,125 litres and 120 bales of used clothing.
Others are 57 parcels of cannabis sativa, 47 cartons of foreign poultry products, and 770 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil.
In addition, Shuaibu said eight containers were seized for misdeclaration and duty evasion. These included consignments of furniture, auto spare parts, used tyres, shoes, canvas, and even alcoholic drinks falsely declared as other items.
The Comptroller revealed that 13 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. While some have been granted administrative bail, others have been handed over to security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
All interceptions, he noted, took place at strategic smuggling corridors, including Ilaro, Owode, Ajilete, and Imeko-Afon in Ogun State; Shaki and Iseyin in Oyo State; the Ondo/Ekiti axis; and parts of Lagos metropolis.
Beyond seizures, the Unit also recovered N47.8 million from under-declared goods that had exited the seaports within the same period, he added.
Shuaibu stressed that the mandate of FOU Zone A goes beyond enforcement to ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s import and export laws.
“These seizures underscore the operational capabilities and strategic effectiveness of our operatives. They also reinforce our unwavering resolve to dismantle smuggling networks and confront economic saboteurs whose actions threaten national security and undermine fiscal policies of the federal government,” he said.
The Customs chief assured that the service would sustain its crackdown on illicit trade, safeguard the economy, and ensure that smugglers do not profit from sabotaging government policies.
