*Some of the seized items on display

The Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Lagos, of the Nigeria Customs Service, led by Comptroller Gambo Aliyu has intensified its advanced surveillance, intelligence sharing frameworks, and inter-agency collaboration within the last eight weeks, which enabled its operatives to thwart a total of 473 smuggling attempts.

Consequently, the Unit seized substantial quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, cannabis indica, Ghanaian loud, high grade mercury, used vehicles, bags of foreign parboiled rice, used tyres and clothing as well as Premium Motor Spirit PMS, among several other contrabands worth over N5.5billion within the period under review. All the seizures were made within its area of operation covering Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo States.

In addition to these enforcement operations, which led to these seizures, the Unit also intensified its role of ensuring compliance with import and export regulations by strengthening the integrity of the declarations on the trade value chain, the Unit continued to scrutinize questionable declarations, leading to the recovery of N97.7million unpaid duty through the issuance of Demand Notices DN in conjunction with the Post Clearance Audit section of the Service.

Comptroller Aliyu, who gave details of the seizures during a press briefing in Lagos, Tuesday, disclosed that a total of 8,794 bags of 50kg foreign rice equivalent to 15 trailer loads, 22 units of exotic used vehicles called tokunbo in local parlance, 1,863 pieces of used refrigerator compressors, 328 bales of used clothing, 1,188 kegs of 25-litre vegetable oil and 31, 705 litres of PMS were intercepted during the eight-week period.

Also seized were 485 pieces used tyres, 69 cartons of foreign Bonita spaghetti, 24 bags of 50kg foreign sugar and five cartons of ST Louis sugar as well as 531 cartons of foreign poultry products.

As part of measures to further boost its operations, the Unit reinforced its anti-smuggling strategies to continuously cut supply chain networks in drug trafficking with the launch of an operation code named ‘OPERATION HAWK’, designed to curb illicit goods trafficking, safeguard revenue, protect, the Nigerian society and environment from incidences of crime, criminalities and pervasive societal vices that threaten national stability.

The operation has started yielding good result, as operatives of the Unit successfully seized 3,340 parcels of synthetic strain of cannabis indica and 1,540kg of Ghanaian loud.

“This effort is an affirmation of our commitment in the fight against drugs smuggling syndicates in the Zone. Our analysis of the trend in recent times, indicate that the traffickers are devising different methods to perpetuate illicit trade, therefore, there is the need for critical security stakeholders to upscale their intelligence sharing mechanism to cut the supply chain completely. In addition to leveraging modern technologies for intelligence gathering,

“I have also constituted and effectively coordinated a specialised team responsible for integrating Human Intelligence HUMINT, and Open Source Intelligence OSINT, operations, which is already yielding positive and measurable results”, Comptroller Aliyu said.

It was further gathered that in a separate operation, officers and men of the Unit at the Gbaji outpost acting on credible intelligence at about 0645hrs on Thursday April 30, 2026, intercepted a green Toyota Highlander SUV driven by one Mr. Oni Iredia Martins, a 71year old male Nigerian citizen suspected to convey Narcotics substances.

On examination of the vehicle, six parcels of cocaine substance, with two parcels of the powdered substance Cocaine weighing 2.3kg, and four parcels of the Methamphetamine weighing 4.1kg of crack cocaine, all totaling 6.4kg of the illicit substance were discovered.

According to the Comptroller, the consignment was intercepted at Elijah Bus stop along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, has a street value of approximately N2.35billion, even as several other seizures were made across the borders in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo States, while several defendants were arrested in connection with the operations.

In line with the Unit’s inter-agency collaboration policy, the seized 1,540kg of synthetic strain of cannabis indica, ‘Ghanaian loud’, totaling 3,340 Compressed packages, together with the 6.4kg of Cocaine and Methamphetamine were handed over to officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, for further investigation and prosecution.

The ever-vigilant officers of the Unit on duty also seized four cylinders of a chemical confirmed to be high grade mercury, which is believed to be illegally used in small scale mining of gold. The chemical, which is also is dual purpose, poses significant environmental hazards and is controlled by the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

It was also learnt that the chemical was concealed in the false bottom segment in the trunk of a Toyota Avensis at the Gbaji Outpost, along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, while the arrest was effected together with a male suspect who has been granted administrative bail, as investigation has reached an advanced stage.

The items and the suspect have been handed over to NESREA in furtherance of the Unit’s function as directed by Customs headquarters.

The Comptroller said: “These seizures underscore the operational prowess and strategic effectiveness of our operatives. They also reinforce our unwavering dedication to disrupt smuggling networks and confront economic saboteurs whose actions threaten national security and undermine the fiscal policies of the federal government headlong.

“They also underscore the Unit’s unwavering commitment to the recovery of unpaid duty, interception of under-declared consignments, and strict enforcement of the Federal Government’s fiscal policies. The N₦5.5billion DPV further demonstrates the significant contribution of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ to national revenue mobilisation efforts, while simultaneously dealing a heavy blow to economic saboteurs and smugglers who attempt to undermine the nation’s economic interests.

These achievements further reinforce our resolve to maintain a high level of operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility in line with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs.”

The Unit had also in alignment with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for a modern, technology- driven Nigeria Customs Service, is aggressively advancing the digitisation of its operations.

“We are integrating cutting-edge technologies, particularly geospatial intelligence, to curb unwholesome practices including smuggling, under declaration, duty evasion, and illicit trafficking. This includes the deployment of Geographic Information Systems GIS, satellite imagery, drone surveillance, real-time vehicle tracking, and predictive analytics to map high-risk border corridors, monitor smuggling hot spots in real time across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states, and enable proactive, intelligence-led operations.

“Geospatial tools allow us to overlay seizure data, movement patterns of contraband such as rice, used vehicles, and narcotics, and intelligence reports on digital maps. This facilitates better resource allocation, rapid response, and disruption of supply chains before they reach our highways. The recent commissioning of our new state-of-the-art Command Headquarters at Iperu in Ogun State provides the perfect infrastructure backbone for this modernisation drive.

“The facility will host an advanced Command and Control Centre equipped for geospatial monitoring, data analytics, and seamless inter-agency collaboration with NDLEA, Police, and other security and intelligence organisations.

“This technological transformation aligns fully with the CGC’s vision of modernising the NCS to meet global standards, enhance operational efficiency, improve revenue collection, and deliver faster trade facilitation while maintaining robust border security. By embracing these tools, we are not only strengthening enforcement but also creating a more transparent, accountable, and responsive Customs administration that supports legitimate trade in line with the WCO SAFE FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS.

“While we maintain vigilance against smuggling, fraud and criminalities, 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. This is representative of the WCO SAFE FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS. This is evident as we no longer hear or receive complains of unnecessary hindrance of cargo movements by our stakeholders who are doing legitimate businesses along the major highways in the Zone”

The Comptroller hinted that the Unit will soon commence a phased movement to it newly commissioned ultra-modern Command Headquarters at Iperu in Ogun State, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure which was recently commissioned by President Bola Tinubu, adding that the strategic relocation is not merely a change of physical address but a transformative step in the CGC’s vision for a fully modernised and efficient Nigeria Customs Service.

It was gathered that the phased relocation will ensure minimal disruption to the Unit’s operations while allowing officers and men to gradually settle into the new facility. The move is also expected to significantly boost morale, enhance inter-agency collaboration, strengthen real-time monitoring of smuggling routes across the South-West, and position the Unit to deliver even greater results in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security.

The Comptroller, who thanked the CGC for his support, also appreciated sister security agencies for their unwavering collaboration, which assuring that the Unit under his watch would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to securing the nation’s borders.