The Federal Operations Unit FOU, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service under Comptroller Mohammed S. Shuaibu has in the last six months sustained its intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations. These have led to the seizure of contrabands and other illicit imports including foreign rice, automobiles, petroleum products, arms, ammunitions, industrial drones, illicit drugs, pharmaceutical products and several bales of used clothes, among several others, estimated at over N15billion in duty paid value DPV, in the last six months, reports Francis Ezem.

On assumption of duty as the head of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service, which covers Lagos, Ogun and other South –Western states, precisely on April 23, 2025, Comptroller Mohammed S. Shuaibu left no one in doubt that he was on a mission to conquer. He also indicated the strategic nature of his vision and mission when he told everyone that he would adopt intelligence-based operations in achieving his set goals. Six months down the line (April-October), the records speak for themselves.

Comptroller Shuaibu hands over illicit substances to NDLEA operatives

Available statistics show that between April 23, 2025 when Comptroller Shuaibu took over at the Unit and October 31, 2025, a total of 375 interceptions have been made, which led to the arrest of 25 suspects, some of whom are already being prosecuted.

Further details show that a total of 18,719 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, which are equivalent to 32 trailer loads were seized while 77 units of foreign used exotic vehicles also called tokumbo in local parlance were also seized within the review period. Also seized by the Unit were 2,350kg of cannabis sativa, which have been handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, under its robust policy of inter-agency collaboration.

Some seized cars

The unit also intercepted a total of 305 bales of second hand clothing and 1,820 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit PMS, also called petrol. All these seized items came with a duty paid value DPV of N8.5billion.

Also under the review period, the Unit in addition to these superlative achievements, intercepted more than 10 containers of expired pharmaceutical products valued at over N5billion, and 25kg of crystal methamphetamine among others, which were equally handed over to the officials of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC.

Some seized arms and ammunitions and industrial drones on display

Under arms and ammunitions, the Unit made other notable seizures within the period, which include 15 pieces of assorted rifles, 4,841 ammunitions and two units of industrial drones, which were also handed over to the relevant agencies of the government.

The FOU Zone A under Comptroller Shuaibu also intensified its onslaught against illegal financial inflows, leading to the arrest of undeclared $USD20,000 and 110,000 West Africa CFA Franc, amounting to N31 million, which was also handed over to the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, with the process to secure final forfeiture already in court.

The Comptroller argued that the arrest of the foreign currencies in addition to helping to curb illegal financial inflows, aligns with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, both of which mandate the declaration of any currency exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent at the country’s borders.

Some expired pharmaceutical products being handed over to NDLEA

 In addition to these seizures, the Unit within the period under review has also taken steps to block revenue leakages by ensuring that every collectible trade revenue and import duty was paid into Federal Government’s coffers. For instance, the Unit recovered in excess of N350million duty revenue in the last six months, which would have been lost by issuing demand notices DN, for improper declaration of consignments. This is in its renewed efforts to harness all revenue components and recover lost revenue from import duty evaders.

Expectedly, the smugglers and the economic saboteurs operating within the areas of coverage of the Unit must have come to the realisation that of a fact, there is a new Sheriff in town and it is not business as usual. This is given the high rate of casualties and humongous losses they have suffered in their illicit businesses, as the Unit has seized contrabands and other illicit imports worth over N15billion in the review period.

Briefing newsmen recently, Comptroller Shuaibu attributed this superlative performance to the support and cooperation the Unit receives from the management of the Service led by the Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR. He noted that the decision of the Unit to deploy credible intelligence gathering played a major role while the commitment and doggedness of the officers and men of the Unit also helped tremendously.

He however warned that even worse doom days are coming for the smugglers and their collaborators if they refuse to repent from their nefarious ways, warning that the Unit under his watch remains resolute in its resolve to reduce smuggling and other unwholesome trade practices to their barest minimum.

“It was for this reason that we decided to adopt intelligence-driven operation strategy and this decision is beginning to yield good results as you can see. We assure the trading public and indeed all Nigerians that we will remain resolute in achieving the Unit’s statutory mandate and no amount of intimidation or blackmail will deter us from performing these statutory responsibilities.

A NAFDAC officials receives seized expired pharmaceuticals

“We equally assure all compliant traders that they do not have anything to fear provided they continue to play by the rules, as the Unit will also do everything possible in facilitating legitimate trade.
“I can also assure you that we are not basking in the euphoria of these seizures, our ever gallant and resilient officers and men of the Unit are gearing up for even higher performances. The Nigeria Customs Service as a lead agency in border security and facilitators of trade, we are not unaware of the need to balance both responsibilities through risk management tools at our disposal. We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our operations will spare no efforts in devising different methods to counter us.

“We would however like to assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intending to cast aspirations on our officers and men, who have always paid the ultimate price for service to their country”, Comptroller Shuaibu asserted.

While fielding questions recently on what the Unit is doing to curb possible upsurge in smuggling and other related trade activities associated with the Yuletide season, the Comptroller remarked: “We are definitely aware and conscious of this fact and as for our strategies, we will continue to hold such to our chest and not divulge them to the criminal elements but you can be rest assured that our officers and men are equal to the task.”

Apart from the support of the management of the Service, the resilience of the officers and men and the deployment of intelligence-driven operations as major factors responsible for this superlative scorecard, it is however imperative to note that Comptroller Shuaibu on assumption of duty inherited a disillusioned and disoriented workforce.

But as a good administrator, he was able to carry out a social and emotional re-engineering for the workforce albeit within a short period, which has contributed significantly to the performance of the Unit. He also embarked on massive training and capacity building sessions to prepare the re-oriented workforce for the serious job ahead.

Additionally, Comptroller Shuaibu remains a team player, who strongly believes that no one tree can make a forest no matter how big. Little wonder he also deployed the instrumentality of synergy, inter-agency collaborations and a robust stakeholders’ engagement as part of strategy to achieve his vision and mission at the Unit.

To this effect, Comptroller Shuaibu, has not hidden his strong belief that no one single security agency is capable of securing the nation’s borders, hence the need for synergy and collaboration amongst relevant agencies. It was based on this line of thinking that he intensified efforts to close ranks with other sister agencies in order to secure the nation’s vast borders.

He therefore embarked on familiarisation visits to security agencies across Lagos and Ogun States. For instance, he visited the Lagos State Police Command where he further underscored the importance of unity in securing the nation’s borders and curbing criminal activities.

He said: “We are serving the nation, so we must synergise and collaborate. We enjoy more of your synergy because you are the lead agency regarding internal security. We are here to consolidate our existing relationship, and I still need your support in many areas, especially in terms of criminality, so that we can share information occasionally.”

He also visited was the Nigerian Army 81 Division, where he described the military as a critical partner in frontline operations.

“As you all know; the Nigerian Army is a critical partner. Some of our operations are carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army”, he remarked.

Sister agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, among several others were not left out of the familiarisation engagements for their support and cooperation, which they promptly pledged.

Frontline traditional rulers and other related institutions, especially in Lagos and Ogun States were also visited; all of which set the background for the superlative performance that are being witnessed today.

The story of Comptroller Mohammed S. Shuaibu is unarguably, the story of a man, who was both properly trained and also prepared for the job; a square peg in a square hole, who knew what to do and started doing them immediately after assumption of duty and the results speak for themselves. Kudos to him indeed!