The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja has swooped down on smugglers, seized bullet proof vests, goods worth over N1.2 billion and arrested seven suspects in connection with the 46 seizures that were made by the officers of the unit in the last two weeks.
Addressing reporters in Lagos yesterday, the Controller of the Unit, Mohammed Shiaibu said the seizures of the prohibited items were made based on “our renewed vigor to fight smuggling and criminalities through intelligence-driven operations which has continued to payoff as the resilience and dedication of our operatives has inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs who are bent on bringing our country to its knees through their nefarious activities.”
On the 23rd and 24th of May 2025, and at about 0300hrs and 0230hrs, he said, “our patrol teams within Lagos metropolis acted on intelligence intercepted and seized 2X40FT containers with containers numbers (MSCU 5295718 and MRSU 5856090) respectively along Ijora-Olopa, and mile 2 axis. The examination reports of these containers revealed the following contents:
“Seven Mitsubishi Canters, 5 Toyota Hiace Buses, and 3 Mini Shuttle Buses all cut up with their parts complete with clear intention of evade Customs duties.”
Other items, Shiaibu said, ” include used bicycles, 312, Bales of printed wax, 23 Bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, and 30 used flat screens televisions, 65 table top cookers, and 31 unit of used split air conditioning and among others.”
The importation of these items, the Controller said, “contravenes schedule 4 of the common external tariff of the Service.”
Shiaibu added that, “on the19th of May 2025 at about 0300hrs hours another patrol team intercepted a Volvo truck and investigation revealed to contains 1263 pieces of used tyres and other goods. One suspect was also arrested.
In the same vein, “on the 19th of May 2025 at about 2300hrs, our officers on a routine patrol along Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode express way in Ogun State, intercepted one truck with registration number T24623LA suspected to be conveying uncustoms goods including Bullet Proof vests. Again, an investigation report revealed the content to include some packages of Tramadol.
On the 26th of May 2025, at about 0600hrs, through intelligence-driven operations, he said, “our men on the Ijebu-Ode patrol team arrested one empty Mercedes Benz truck. Thorough rummaging of the truck and careful observation by our officers which led to uncover concealment of Cannabis Sativa (India Hemp) in the compartments of the truck. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Additionally, ” our patrol teams around the borders areas across the six states of the Southwest have intensified surveillance of our borders against unscrupulous elements among Nigerians, resulting in several seizures of rice, Cannabis Sativa, used cars and other goods in a flash points of Imeko, Ilaro, Owode, Idiroko , Ilara, Ihumbo, Abeokuta, Badagry, Agbara, Gbaji, shaki and Iseyin in Oyo state.
In all, the Controller said, “46 interceptions were recorded during this two (2) weeks of operations comprising the following: 2051X50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice equivalent to 4 trailer loads, 11 used vehicles, popularly known as tokumbo vehicles, 1665kg of Cannabis Sativa, 4000 litres of premium motor spirit. (PMS), One white and Black J5 commercial Bus loaded with expired goods, one Volvo Truck containing 180 sacks of new towel. Seven suspects, Shuaibu said, were arrested in connection with the various seizures, which have a duty paid value (DPV) of one billion, two hundred and eighty-five million, six hundred thousand, three hundred and eighty-three naira only.
These seizures, he said, “came on the heels of successes recorded in our anti-smuggling activities just 3 weeks after I resume the leadership of the unit on the 23rd of April 2025, which saw seizures of over 7 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, drugs and narcotics among others with a duty paid value of over N1.5 billion.
The Nigeria Customs Service as a lead agency in border security and facilitators of trade,, he said, “is not unaware of the need to balance both responsibilities through risk management tools at our disposal. We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our operations will spare no efforts in devising different methods to counter us.”
Shuaibu therefore, assure the public that the service will continue to remain alive to its responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent to casting aspirations on its officers who have always paid ultimate price for the service to their country.
“As criminals get more desperate and daring, we at the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense against any antics devised by these non-state actors. The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to design and implement sustainable programs that will grow our economy, increase revenue for the government, and encourage legitimate trade,” he vowed
The seized 1665kg of Indian hemp, he said, would be handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
