By Benson Daniel
The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a total value of N3.23 billion in duty paid value during an eight week enforcement operation.
The operation also enabled the Customs authorities to recover N728.9 million in revenue that would have been lost through under declaration, false declarations and other forms of customs fraud.
The seizures, according to the unit, followed intelligence driven operations, enhanced risk profiling, compliance checks and targeted interventions against suspicious shipments moving through trade corridors within the South West.
Among the items intercepted were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50 kilogrammes each, equivalent to eight trailer loads. The seizure comes amid continued efforts by the government to protect local agricultural production and discourage the smuggling of imported food products.
The operation also uncovered a significant quantity of illicit drugs and controlled substances. Customs officers seized 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing about 1,439.9 kilogrammes, alongside 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1 kilogrammes.
Other drug related seizures included a parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35 kilogrammes, 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35 kilogrammes, 240,000 tablets of tramadol and 12,000 tablets of Hypnox.
The enforcement operation also resulted in the interception of 12 foreign used vehicles, 964 jerrycans of premium motor spirit containing a combined 24,100 litres, 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil and 686 cartons of foreign poultry products.
Customs officers further seized 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 pieces of used tyres, which were among the prohibited or smuggled goods intercepted during the period.
In another major aspect of the operation, the unit recovered 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kilogrammes. The seizure highlights the growing enforcement attention on illegal wildlife trafficking and the movement of endangered animal products through Nigeria’s trade routes.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, said the revenue recovery demonstrated the unit’s determination to identify and recover funds lost through customs fraud.
He urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to ensure that their declarations are accurate and comply fully with existing customs laws and regulations.
Aliyu said the unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while taking firm action against individuals and businesses involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other activities capable of undermining the national economy.
He also noted that the seizure of foreign rice, poultry products, vegetable oil and other prohibited imports would help protect domestic industries, support local production and strengthen food security.
The Customs authorities attributed the latest enforcement gains to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, collaboration with other government agencies and information received from stakeholders and members of the public.
The unit assured compliant traders that its enforcement activities would be balanced with efforts to facilitate legitimate commerce and create a predictable trading environment.
The Customs Service, however, warned that its zero tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and the movement of prohibited goods would be sustained as part of broader efforts to protect government revenue, domestic industries and national security.
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