The Federal Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday unveiled sweeping enforcement results, detailing a surge in anti smuggling operations that disrupted illicit trade networks across the South West within weeks.
Addressing journalists, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu said the Unit remains resolute in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders, protecting the economy and enforcing fiscal policies against economic saboteurs operating within Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo states.
He disclosed that under intensified operations backed by intelligence and inter agency collaboration, the Unit foiled 473 smuggling attempts in eight weeks, leading to large scale seizures spanning food items, vehicles, petroleum products and other contraband.
Items seized include 8,794 bags of imported rice equivalent to 15 trailer loads, 22 used vehicles, 1,863 used refrigerator compressors, 328 bales of used clothing and 1,188 kegs of vegetable oil.
Others are 31,705 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 485 used tyres, 69 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 24 bags of foreign sugar, five cartons of ST Louis sugar and 531 cartons of frozen poultry products.
Aliyu said the Unit also launched Operation Hawk, a targeted crackdown on drug trafficking networks, resulting in the seizure of 3,340 parcels of cannabis indica popularly known as Ghanaian loud weighing 1,540 kilogrammes.
He warned that traffickers are adopting increasingly sophisticated tactics, stressing the need for enhanced intelligence sharing among security agencies to dismantle supply chains driving illicit drug trade.
In a separate operation along the Lagos Abidjan corridor, Customs operatives intercepted a 71 year old suspect conveying hard drugs concealed in a Toyota Highlander, recovering cocaine and methamphetamine weighing 6.4 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of N2.35 billion.
The seizures, he said, would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution, underscoring growing synergy between enforcement agencies.
Customs also intercepted four cylinders of high grade mercury concealed in a vehicle, describing the substance as a dangerous dual use chemical regulated under international conventions due to its environmental hazards.
Aliyu revealed that the Unit recorded a Duty Paid Value of N5.504 billion within the review period, reflecting both the scale of seizures and the effectiveness of enforcement in blocking revenue leakages.
In addition, the Unit recovered N97.7 million through demand notices issued on improperly declared consignments, reinforcing compliance across the import value chain.
He noted that the Unit is deepening its adoption of modern technology including geospatial intelligence, drone surveillance and real time tracking to map smuggling routes and improve response efficiency.
According to him, the newly commissioned command headquarters in Iperu, Ogun State, will serve as a hub for advanced data analytics, inter agency coordination and intelligence driven operations.
Aliyu added that the Unit remains committed to balancing strict enforcement with trade facilitation, ensuring legitimate businesses are not hindered while illegal activities are decisively curtailed.
He announced plans for a phased relocation to the Iperu facility, describing it as a major step toward modernising Customs operations and strengthening border security across the region.
Meanwhile, receiving the seized narcotics, Comptroller I.M Kabiru, representing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, described the handover as another milestone in the strong collaboration between both agencies.
Kabiru confirmed receipt of cocaine and methamphetamine consignments alongside multiple parcels of cannabis and associated exhibits, noting that investigations would immediately commence to uncover the networks behind the shipments.
He warned that Lagos would not serve as a safe haven for drug traffickers, adding that those involved in the illicit trade would be tracked, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The NDLEA official urged parents, community leaders and the media to intensify awareness against drug abuse, cautioning that the so called glamour associated with narcotics is a direct path to destruction and imprisonment.
He commended Customs officers for their vigilance and reaffirmed that sustained inter agency cooperation remains critical to defeating organised crime and protecting Nigerian society.
