The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of smuggled goods valued at N1.8 billion in the South-West region of the country within the last six-week.
The seized items include truckloads of rice, cannabis sativa, and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), among others.
The seizures were made possible through intensified surveillance and intelligence gathering by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A.
A total of four suspects were also arrested in connection with some of the seized items.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Muhammed Shuaibu, made this disclosure on Tuesday while showcasing some of the contrabands to journalists.
Shuaibu stated that the contrabands were intercepted across borders in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos States.
According to him, NCS is a key government agency tasked with regulating and facilitating international trade, enforcing customs laws, and preventing illegal importation and exportation of goods across Nigeria’s borders. And that the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, operates primarily in the southwestern part of Nigeria, overseeing critical border areas in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos States. These states serve as major entry points for goods entering the country from neighboring nations.
Shuaibu added that between September 1 and October 7, 2025, a total of N39.3 million was recovered through demand notices.
Giving details of the seizures, Shuaibu stated that a total of 5, 015 bags of foreign bags of rice equivalent to eight trucks were seized within the period under review.
“Others include, 15 used vehicles, 640 parcels of cannabis sativa equivalent to 431killgrams, 460 jerrycans of premium motor spirit, 25 litres each, 143 bales of used clothing, two jumbo sacks of used shoes, and one sack of used clothing, 390 bottles of codeine, 310 foreign-branded drugs, 19 cards of 210 pieces of used tyres. A duty paid value of N1.8bn was recorded during this period, reflecting the scale of our operations,” he stated.
He stressed that within the period under review, one 20ft container laden with 752 cartons of calcium lactate which was intercepted for false declaration.
Shuaibu emphasised that demonstrating the unit’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, the seized pharmaceuticals and cannabis sativa will be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency respectively.
According to him, it is pertinent to re-echo that the 2016 Federal Government Fiscal Policy that bands the importation of foreign parboiled rice through land borders is still enforced.
‘Therefore, let me warn some selfish and unpatriotic individuals who continue to defy this restriction that our men will continue to inflict heavy losses on their ill-fated mission,” Shuaibu said.
Shuaibu maintained that the seizures reaffirm the unit’s operational capacity and underscore their resolve to continuously confront economic saboteurs who threaten national security and undermine federal government policies.
He reiterated that the unit continues to enforce import and export compliance by addressing under-valuations and issuing demand notices.
Shuaibu disclosed that while maintaining rigorous enforcement to root out economic saboteurs, “we remain equally committed to facilitating legitimate trade and ensuring that lawful businesses operate without unnecessary hindrance.”
“The Federal Operations Unit Zone A remains unwavering in its commitment to combating smuggling and safeguarding Nigeria’s economy. Through sustained intelligence led operations and the strategic deployment of advanced surveillance technologies, the unit has achieved significant seizures of illicit goods across key southwestern border points, underscoring our dedication to protecting revenue and public health,” he stated.
He added that the unit will continue to intensify these efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders, uphold national security, and contribute meaningfully to the growth and stability of our nation’s economy.
