Get Guardian on GoogleThe Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, has intercepted 195 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and restricted goods valued at N6.19 billion in four weeks across the Southwest.
The seizures included thousands of bags of foreign rice, 23,220 machetes, 21 foreign-used vehicles, 5,986 parcels of cannabis weighing 3,407.83kg, 1,250 cartridges and other prohibited items.
The Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone A, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this yesterday during his maiden press briefing, four weeks after assuming office.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Afeni said the unit intercepted 3,028 bags of 50kg rice, 995 bags of 25kg, 104 bags of 20kg and 207 bags of 5kg.
Other seized items included 173 cartons of frozen poultry products, 6,949 cartons of spaghetti, 459 bales and 39 jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, 1,236 used tyres, 33 used vehicle rims and 8,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The unit also seized 101 bags of imported sugar weighing 50kg each, 20 cartons of couscous, eight bags of imported cream powder, 12 bags of green oat products and a 40-foot container carrying 270 pieces of office sheets in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) form, allegedly misdeclared as raw materials.
Other seizures included 400 grammes of cocaine, 100 grammes of methamphetamine, eight live pangolins, 250 cartons of Lotus sardines without National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration numbers, and 11 means of conveyance.
Afeni put the total duty-paid value of the seized goods at N6.19 billion, describing the interceptions as part of the service’s efforts to curb smuggling, protect government revenue and safeguard the country’s economic and security interests.
He disclosed that the cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis consignments had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution, while other seized items were transferred to relevant government agencies.
Expressing concern over the volume of cannabis intercepted, the acting comptroller warned about the health and social consequences of drug abuse, particularly among young people.
Citing the 2025 World Drug Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), he said cannabis remained the most widely available and used drug globally, accounting for an estimated 42 per cent of drug use disorder cases worldwide.
He added that increasingly potent varieties of cannabis, including those popularly marketed as Colorado, posed serious threats to young people, families and the healthcare system.
Afeni also expressed concern over the interception of 23,220 machetes, warning that the illegal importation of such items could fuel violence and undermine peaceful electoral processes.
According to him, smuggling networks could facilitate the movement of dangerous items capable of being used to disrupt elections and threaten public safety.
On revenue recovery, Afeni said the unit recovered N683.66 million between September 30, 2026, and the date of the briefing through compliance checks, scrutiny of import declarations and the detection and correction of undervaluation.
He attributed the seizures and revenue recovery to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, surveillance, targeted examination of suspicious consignments and collaboration with relevant government agencies.
The acting comptroller assured importers, customs agents and other stakeholders that the unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while strengthening enforcement against duty evasion, false declarations and other customs-related offences.
He urged the public to support the anti-smuggling campaign by reporting suspicious activities and complying with lawful trade procedures.
