The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods valued at N3.24 billion, while recovering N728.98 million in revenue from under-declarations, false declarations and other customs violations.
The Unit said the seizures, made through intelligence-led operations, were part of efforts to curb smuggling, protect local industries and safeguard government revenue.
According to the NCS, the intercepted items included 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 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, 13 parcels of granular cannabis, 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg.
Other seizures included 964 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing 24,100 litres, 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing, and 2,947 used tyres.
The Comptroller of FOU Zone A, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the revenue recovery as encouraging and said the Unit would intensify efforts to detect and recover revenue lost through customs fraud.
He urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to ensure accurate declarations and comply with existing customs laws and regulations.
Aliyu said the interception of rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, foreign-used vehicles, used clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries, support national food security and preserve government revenue.
He added that the seizure of illicit drugs and unregulated pharmaceutical products would help protect public health and prevent harmful substances from reaching communities, particularly young Nigerians.
The recovery of elephant tusks, he said, also demonstrated the Service’s commitment to combating illegal wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species.
The comptroller said the Unit’s enforcement strategy was designed to balance strict border control with trade facilitation, attributing the successes recorded to enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration and support from stakeholders and members of the public.
He assured compliant traders of the Service’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and predictable trading environment, while warning that the Unit would sustain its zero-tolerance stance against smuggling, revenue fraud and other forms of economic sabotage.
The NCS said FOU Zone A restated its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives by protecting local production, promoting compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing the entry of prohibited and harmful goods into the country.
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