Customs FOU ‘A’ Intercepts N3.24bn Smuggled Goods, Recovers N729m

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.24 billion and recovered N728.98 million in lost revenue.

The seizures, made through intelligence-led operations and targeted enforcement activities, included foreign parboiled rice, used vehicles, illicit drugs, pharmaceutical products, poultry products, used clothing, tyres, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and elephant tusks, among other prohibited items.

In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, August 10, 2026, the Customs Public Relations Officer of FOU ‘A’, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, said the operation was driven by enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, compliance checks and intelligence fusion aimed at curbing smuggling and revenue evasion.

Abdullahi, who issued the statement on behalf of the Comptroller of the Unit, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, said the seizures included 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis (Sativa) weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg; and 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg.

Other items seized, he said, included 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, equivalent to 24,100 litres, 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 pieces of used tyres.

The Comptroller, FOU ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, described the N728.98 million revenue recovery as encouraging, stressing that the Unit would continue to identify and recover revenue lost through under-declaration, false declarations and other forms of customs fraud.

Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to make accurate declarations and comply fully with extant customs laws and regulations.

He said the Unit remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade, but would take decisive action against individuals and businesses involved in smuggling and revenue evasion.

According to him, the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles, clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries, promote national food security and safeguard government revenue.

He added that the seizure of illicit drugs, unregulated pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances would contribute to protecting public health and preventing the circulation of harmful substances, particularly among young Nigerians.

On the seizure of the elephant tusks, the Comptroller said it further demonstrated the Service’s contribution to efforts aimed at combating illegal wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species.

Aliyu attributed the successes recorded by the Unit to enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration and the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.

He assured compliant traders of the Service’s continued commitment to providing a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment, while warning that FOU ‘A’ would sustain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other forms of economic sabotage.

The Comptroller also called for sustained cooperation from the business community and the general public, noting that collective compliance and vigilance remained essential to consolidating the gains recorded in revenue recovery, border protection, public safety and national economic development.