*The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, within four weeks, has intercepted smuggled goods, including imported rice, poultry products worth N6.19 billion as part of the Service’s continued offensive against smuggling and other illegal business activities classified as economic sabotage
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
As part of its continued offensive against smuggling and other illegal business activities classified as economic sabotage, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, has said its operatives intercepted smuggled goods worth N6.19 billion within a month.
ConsumerConnect reports Oladapo Afeni, Acting Comptroller of the FOU Zone ‘A’ Unit, disclosed this development during his maiden media briefing since assuming office.
UBA faces legal battle as creditors attach Lagos HQs, FCT branches to recover N7.45bn judgement debt
Afeni told reporters that the unit intercepted total 195 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and restricted items, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N6,194,695,947.05.
Seized prohibited items
The Acting Comptroller of the FOI Zone A Unit said the seized prohibited items included 5,986 parcels of cannabis weighing 3,407.83 kilogrammes, 400 grammes of cocaine, 100 grammes of methamphetamine, 1,250 rounds of 12-calibre cartridges and 57 cartons, 37 packs and six pieces of codeine syrup.
Others confiscated contraband were 3,028 bags of 50kg imported rice, 995 bags of 25kg rice, 104 bags of 20kg rice and 207 bags of 5kg rice, 173 cartons of imported frozen poultry products, 6,949 cartons of spaghetti and 250 cartons of Lotus sardines without National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) numbers.
The Unit also intercepted 23,220 new machetes, 459 bales and 39 jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing (Okrika), 1,236 used tyres, 33 used rims, 8,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol, 21 foreign-used vehicles, and 11 means of conveyance.
Afeni listed the latest seizures included eight live pangolins, 20 cartons of couscous, 101 bags of imported sugar, eight bags of powdered milk, 12 bags of grain oat products, and a 40-foot container containing 2,760 office chairs in Completely Knocked-Down (CKD) form.
Cannabis seizure and public health concerns, by Customs chief
The Acting Comptroller of the Unit, however, expressed concern over the volume of cannabis intercepted during the period.
According to him, the substance certainly, poses a serious threat to young people, families and public health in Nigeria.
Expatiating on his claim, Afeni referenced the 2025 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which identified cannabis as the most widely available and used drug, accounting for an estimated 42 percent of drug use disorder cases worldwide.
The seizure of the prohibited item will reduce the substance’s availability, and disrupt the illegal proceeds generated from its sale in the West African country, said he.
Afeni further raised concerns over the interception of 23,220 machetes.
He said such items could be deployed to disrupt peaceful elections in the coming months, especially in view of the fast approaching 2027 General Elections.
The Acting Comptroller of the FOU Zone ‘A’ Unit explained: “Election violence is rarely an isolated incident but facilitated and aided by smuggling activities like the one thwarted by our operatives.”
Update on revenue recovery drive
On revenue recovery, Afeni said the unit recovered N683.66 million through compliance checks, scrutiny of import declarations and correction of under-valuations between September 30, 2026 and the date of the media briefing.
Giving insight into how the NCS operatives succeeded in the enforcement exercise, Afeni attributed the recovery to enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted examination of questionable declarations, and collaboration with relevant government regulatory agencies and stakeholders.
He assured importers, licensed Customs agents, and other members of the trading public that the Unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while dealing firmly with duty evasion, false declarations and activities capable of undermining national security.
The Unit, Afeni stated, had strengthened intelligence-driven enforcement, surveillance and risk-based examination since he assumed office.
The Acting Comptroller of the FOU Zone ‘A’ Unit said the Unit was working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Army, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to tackle smuggling in the zone.
Meanwhile, Afeni has disclosed that the Unit will hand over seized narcotics and arrested suspects to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
According to him, the NCS will be transferring other seized prohibited items to relevant government agencies in line with their statutory responsibilities.
The Acting Comptroller of the FOU, therefore, urged members of the public to support the ongoing anti-smuggling campaign by reporting suspicious activities and promoting lawful trade in Nigeria.
Pingback:UBA faces legal battle as creditors attach Lagos HQs, FCT branches to recover N7.45bn judgement debt - Consumer Experience Is A Top Priority