The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, has intercepted 11 used vehicles, four truckloads of foreign parboiled rice, hard drugs, and other contraband worth over N1.28 billion, smuggled into the country through Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states within two weeks.

Displaying the seized items to journalists yesterday at the Customs warehouse in Ikeja, the Controller of Customs for FOU Zone A, Mohammed Shuaibu, stated that the seizures are part of intensified efforts to curtail criminal activities threatening Nigeria’s economy and national security.

Among the highlights of the operations was the interception of two 40-foot containers on May 23 and 24, which were loaded with vehicles and goods smuggled in a bid to evade customs duties.

Shuaibu disclosed that the containers held seven Mitsubishi Cantas, five Toyota buses, and three minibuses, alongside other contraband items such as used bicycles, 42 used gas cylinders, 30 used flat-screen televisions, 65 tabletop cookers, and 31 units of used split air conditioners, among others.

He explained that the importation of these items contravenes Schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff.

Other seizures include 1,263 pieces of used tyres concealed in a Volvo truck intercepted on May 19, a truckload of suspected bulletproof vests and tramadol intercepted along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway, and a Mercedes-Benz truck carrying 1,665 kg of cannabis sativa hidden in its compartment, with one suspect arrested.