Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu addressing newsmen in Lagos, Thursday.

The Federal Operations Unit FOU Zone A, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service has in the last three weeks intensified its intelligence-driven anti-smuggling enforcement within its jurisdiction covering the five states of the South West geopolitical zone, which led to 76 seizures comprising exotic cars, Premium Motor Spirit PMS, meant for illegal export, foreign parboiled rice, bales of used cloths, used vehicles and cannabis sativa, among several others-all valued at N3.2billion.

The Unit has also within the review period heightened its onslaught against some unscrupulous importers and that their agents, who are in the habit of evading duty through concealment, false classification, under-declaration through the issuance of debit notes DN, which has led to the recovery of N48million revenue, which would have been lost to these trade infractions.

The Unit also within the three-week period arrested a total of 13 persons in connection with the seizures. While some have been granted administrative bail, others have been handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Some of the seized exotic cars.

Details of the seizures include 4,068 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg), which is equivalent to seven trailer loads, 22 pieces of used (tokunbo) vehicles, including two Ashok Leyland drilling trucks, 485 jerry cans of 25 litres each of PMS, totaling 12,125 litres, 120 bales of used clothing, 57 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 47 cartons of foreign poultry products and 770 jerry cans of 25 litres each of foreign vegetable oil.

The Unit also made notable seizures involving eight pieces of laden containers with wrongly declared goods in an attempt to evade duty payment, comprising four pieces of 40-foot containers. Further details show that a container marked MSKU-1629585 was used to conceal sacks of used shoes and canvas, while another with number MSKU-0733723 was used to conceal auto spare parts, used tyres, and vehicles.

The remaining 40-foot containers with numbers TCNU-9441240 and ACLU-9673721 were used to conceal furniture, spare parts, used tyres, and used vehicles.

Further details show that three of the four pieces of 20-foot containers with registration numbers TEMU-4596866, TCLU-3866419, TEMU-4596866, TCLU-3866419 and TCKU-3962096 were used to conceal imported furniture while the 4th 20-foot container with registration number TCKU-1497232 was used to convey pali bitters drinks. All the seized goods have a Duty Paid Value DPV of ₦3.2million.

It was gathered that all the seizures occurred at strategic points across the South-Western states, including Ilaro, Owode, Ajilete, and Imeko-Afon in Ogun State; the Ondo/Ekiti axis; Shaki and Iseyin in Oyo State and the Lagos metropolis.

Addressing news men at the Ikeja, Lagos headquarter of the Unit, Thursday, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu noted that the Unit under his watch is more than ever committed to working towards accomplishing the mandate. While commending the officers and men of the Unit, whose diligence and patriotism made the seizures possible, he assured that the Unit will not rest on its oars in its efforts to combating smuggling.

He also assured that the Unit in all its operations would do everything possible to promote legitimate trade and would ensure that no compliant importer should be made to suffer inconveniences in an effort to carry out enforcement operation on non- compliant ones.

He said: “As an enforcement arm of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, our mandate remains firm and focused to safeguard our nation’s borders, protect the economy, and combat all forms of illicit trade.

“In line with this mandate, the Federal Operations Unit Zone A FOU A, has intensified surveillance and enforcement activities across the six states of the South-West geopolitical zone.

“Today, I am pleased to report significant breakthroughs achieved by our dedicated officers and operatives through intelligence driven operations over the past 3 weeks. These efforts led to a total of seventy-six (76) interceptions of smuggled and contraband goods.    

“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 the fiscal policies of the federal government.

“Beyond enforcement, FOU Zone A also plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with import and export regulations. We continue to scrutinise questionable declarations, correct under valuations, and issue Demand Notices (DNs) where necessary. Between 18th July and 12th August 2025, the Unit recovered a total of ₦47.8million

“While we maintain vigilance against smuggling and fraud, the FOU remains a strong partner in trade facilitation. We continue to support legitimate trade through intelligence-driven operations that strike a balance between security enforcement and economic growth ensuring that lawful traders are not unduly hindered in the process.

“In all, I commend the tireless efforts of our operatives and reaffirm our steadfast commitment to securing our nation’s borders against all forms of economic sabotage. We will not relent in our mission to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s trade environment and protect our economy from illicit trade practices’’, he said.

A highpoint of the event was the official handover of the 57 parcels of Cannabis Sativa to the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, in charge of narcotics, Nasir Garba Bungudu, who commended the Unit for its vigilance and deepening synergy and information sharing among other sister agencies.