In a major crackdown on illegal trade and revenue evasion, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service in Ikeja, Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of smuggled and prohibited goods valued at N3.23 billion in duty-paid value. Over the course of an eight-week intelligence-driven operation, the unit also succeeded in clawing back N728.9 million in lost revenue caused by under-declarations and fraudulent customs practices.
According to a statement by Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, the command’s Public Relations Officer, the multi-billion-Naira seizures were made possible through sharpened risk profiling, rigorous compliance checks, and targeted strikes against fraudulent declarations. Among the seized contrabands were 4,956 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice the equivalent of eight full trailer loads alongside 12 foreign-used vehicles, 414 bales of second-hand clothing, 2,947 used tyres, and 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil. Officers also impounded 964 jerrycans of premium motor spirit (24,100 litres total) and 686 cartons of foreign poultry products.
Beyond basic commercial goods, the operations yielded significant busts of dangerous illicit substances and illegal wildlife products. Customs officers intercepted 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis (1,439.9kg), 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud (26.1kg), crystal methamphetamine, 240,000 tablets of tramadol, and 12,000 tablets of Hypnox. Enforcing international wildlife protection laws, the unit also confiscated 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing over 130 kilograms.
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Commenting on the achievement, Customs Area Controller Gambo Aliyu described the revenue recoveries as highly encouraging and reaffirmed the service's commitment to protecting national food security, safeguarding local industries, and keeping trade corridors clear of economic sabotage. Aliyu emphasized that while the unit will maintain a zero-tolerance stance against smugglers and revenue evaders, it remains dedicated to facilitating seamless trade for law-abiding importers, exporters, and agents who adhere strictly to customs regulations.
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