By Frontline Reporters

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has intensified its offensive against smuggling and customs fraud, intercepting 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3,237,132,640.00 and recovering N728,976,725.03 in lost revenue.

The latest operational breakthrough underscores the Unit’s growing capacity to penetrate sophisticated smuggling networks through intelligence-led enforcement, enhanced risk profiling, rigorous compliance checks and targeted examination of suspicious consignments.

Among the items intercepted were 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.

The seizures also 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 (PMS), equivalent to 24,100 litres, 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil containing four 5-litre units each, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 pieces of used tyres, among other prohibited and smuggled goods.

The Comptroller of FOU ‘A’, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the revenue recovery as encouraging, stressing that the Unit would continue to pursue revenue leakages arising from under-declaration, false declarations, undervaluation 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 stressed that while the Service remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade, it would not hesitate to take decisive enforcement action against smugglers, revenue evaders and other economic saboteurs.

Beyond the revenue implications, the seizures carry significant economic, security and public-health consequences. The interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used clothing, foreign-used vehicles and other prohibited goods is expected to strengthen the protection of domestic industries, support local production and contribute to national food-security objectives.

The interception of illicit drugs, pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances, meanwhile, represents another critical dimension of the Unit’s enforcement mandate, helping to prevent the circulation of dangerous substances capable of undermining public health and exposing young Nigerians to serious social and health risks.

The recovery of 130.84kg of elephant tusks also highlights the wider environmental and security implications of customs enforcement, reinforcing the Service’s contribution to the national and international fight against illegal wildlife trafficking and the protection of endangered species.

Comptroller Aliyu emphasised that the Unit’s enforcement operations were being conducted within a balanced framework that places equal importance on border protection and trade facilitation. He attributed the latest successes to strengthened intelligence gathering, sophisticated risk profiling, intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration and the support of stakeholders and members of the public.

He assured compliant businesses that the NCS would continue to promote a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment, while warning that FOU ‘A’ would sustain its zero-tolerance posture towards smuggling, customs fraud, revenue evasion and other activities capable of undermining the national economy.

The Unit reiterated that its enforcement drive forms part of the broader NCS commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives by protecting domestic production, improving revenue mobilisation, facilitating legitimate commerce and preventing the entry and circulation of prohibited and harmful goods.

Comptroller Aliyu therefore called for sustained cooperation from the business community, border communities and the general public, stressing that collective vigilance, timely intelligence and voluntary compliance remain critical to consolidating the gains being recorded in revenue recovery, border protection, public safety and national economic development.

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