In a renewed crackdown on smuggling and illicit trade, the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has announced the seizure of prohibited goods valued at over ₦352.9 million in recent operations along Nigeria’s maritime corridors.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller PN Ntadi, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Ibafon-Apapa, Lagos on Tuesday. He described the seizures as a significant blow to criminal elements exploiting Nigeria’s waterways to undermine economic stability and public health.
Among the items confiscated during the operations were:
* **2,017 bags of foreign parboiled rice** with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦212,995,200
* **481 loaves of cannabis sativa** valued at ₦50,505,000
* **72 bundles of imported textile materials** with a DPV of ₦71,280,000
* **7 bags of sugar** valued at ₦672,000
* **9 locally constructed boats** (comprising 4 fibre boats and 5 wooden boats) with an estimated DPV of ₦17,500,000
The total estimated DPV of all seizures amounts to **₦352,952,200**.
“These seizures reaffirm our commitment to protecting our borders and ensuring that lawful trade thrives,” Comptroller Ntadi stated. “This is no time for complacency. The economic and security threats posed by smuggling are far too great.”
Ntadi attributed the Command’s recent successes to improved intelligence gathering, the deployment of additional patrol vessels, and robust inter-agency cooperation involving the Nigerian Navy, NDLEA, Marine Police, and the Immigration Service.
He also acknowledged the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, whose provision of vital equipment and logistics has enhanced operational effectiveness.
“We are grateful to CGC Adeniyi and his management team for empowering us to achieve these results,” he said.
Comptroller Ntadi also used the opportunity to urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to smuggling or illegal trade in the nation’s waterways.
“Our fight against smuggling is a collective one,” he said. “With continued public support and strategic collaboration, we can ensure that criminal networks find no safe haven in our waters.”
He reaffirmed the Western Marine Command’s resolve to intensify patrols and operations to deter smugglers and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s borders.