The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded seizures with a duty paid value of over N3.3 billion within weeks of a change in leadership, following the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving rice, petroleum products, vehicles, drugs, used clothing, vegetable oil, wildlife and other prohibited or restricted items across its area of responsibility.
The Comptroller of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Ikeja, Lagos, during his maiden press briefing since assuming office, describing the development as the outcome of a deliberate shift in strategy aimed at confronting smuggling syndicates with renewed vigour, tighter internal controls and intelligence-driven operations.
According to him, the seizures include 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to about 12 trailer loads; 77 bags of foreign sugar; 21 units of assorted used vehicles; 3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil of 25 litres each; 20,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 915 bales of used clothing; and one 20-foot container loaded with 20 pallets of stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets.
Aliyu said the results were achieved after the command reviewed its operational patterns and moved away from routine and predictable checkpoints, especially within the Lagos metropolis, in favour of intelligence-led deployments. He explained that internal supervision had also been strengthened, with clear performance indicators introduced for officers and men of the unit as part of what he described as a broader change management, compliance management and reputational management framework.
Beyond economic sabotage, the customs boss said the unit had also intensified operations against drug trafficking networks, leading to the interception of 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica, popularly known as “Ghanaian Loud,” weighing about 1,431 kilogrammes. He noted that the operation significantly disrupted supply chains of illicit drugs within the unit’s area of responsibility, at a time when the country is grappling with rising cases of banditry, terrorism and other forms of violent crime.
He linked drug trafficking to broader national security and social challenges, warning that substances such as methamphetamine and other hard drugs embolden criminal elements, erode social stability and worsen public health and economic problems, including youth unemployment and addiction-related illnesses. He urged those involved in the illicit trade to abandon it for legitimate business or face the consequences, stressing that the unit’s resolve to clamp down on such activities remains firm.
Aliyu also disclosed that the command, in the course of these operations, lost one of its officers who died in the line of duty, a development he described as a painful reminder of the risks associated with enforcement work. He said the incident had already been reported to the Service high command.
In another notable operation, the unit intercepted four live pangolins along the waterways of Alapa Creek in Ajilete, Ogun State. The endangered animals, regarded as among the most trafficked mammals in the world, were subsequently handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre for safekeeping. The comptroller said the action underscored Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws and discouraging the illegal trade in endangered species.
The unit also seized 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle, an interception Aliyu described as significant for environmental protection and public safety. He explained that such compressors often contain hazardous oils and refrigerants that can contaminate soil and release greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which contribute to ozone layer depletion if improperly disposed of. He said the seizure was in line with Section 55(1)(d) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and Nigeria’s obligations under the Basel Convention on the control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous waste.
In total, eight suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures, which the unit valued at N3,319,893,255 as duty paid value.
The comptroller said the Service would continue to collaborate with other government agencies, sister security organisations, stakeholders and border communities to suppress smuggling and other forms of trans-border crime, while also enforcing government fiscal policies and maintaining professionalism in its operations.
As part of inter-agency cooperation, Aliyu disclosed that the seized cannabis indica, weighing about 1,425 kilogrammes, would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution. He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to smuggling and illicit trade, assuring that such information would be treated with strict confidentiality.
Beyond seizures, the FOU Zone ‘A’ boss said the unit had also stepped up enforcement of import and export compliance, particularly in the area of cargo misdeclaration. He revealed that between December 10, 2025 and the date of the briefing, the command recovered N36,891,826 through the issuance of demand notices, as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the supply chain through what he described as rigorous gap analysis.
Aliyu said the unit would sustain enforcement tactics aimed at rooting out economic saboteurs, while at the same time facilitating legitimate trade, in line with the broader mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the Service for the opportunity to serve, while also commending officers and men of the unit for their efforts and thanking the media for their continued support.
