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By Steve Agbota
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, has arrested six suspects and intercepted prohibited goods, including 3,407.83kg of cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine, with a total duty-paid value of N6.194 billion in four weeks.
The Acting Comptroller of the Unit, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Tuesday during his maiden press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, where he said the seizures resulted from 195 interception operations carried out under the Unit’s renewed enforcement strategy.
Afeni said the seized items had a combined duty-paid value of N6,194 billion, adding that the operations were driven by intelligence gathering, improved surveillance, risk-based examination and stronger collaboration with relevant government agencies.
According to him, the seizures included 5,986 parcels of cannabis weighing 3,407.83kg, 400 grammes of cocaine and 100 grammes of methamphetamine.
“Other seized items comprised various quantities of imported rice, 173 cartons of frozen poultry products, 6,949 cartons of smuggled spaghetti, 459 bales and 39 jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, 1,236 used tyres, 8,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and assorted pharmaceutical products, including codeine syrup.
“The list also included 23,220 new machetes, 1,250 rounds of 12-calibre cartridges, 21 foreign-used vehicles, eight live pangolins, 250 cartons of sardines without NAFDAC registration numbers and other prohibited goods,” he said.
He added that the Unit also intercepted a 40-foot container, with number SEGU 5347239, containing 2,760 pieces of office chairs in completely knocked-down form, as well as 11 means of conveyance.
Afeni expressed concern over the quantity of cannabis seized, noting that the drug posed serious threats to public health, particularly among young people.
He said the interception would help disrupt the supply of illicit drugs, deny traffickers proceeds from their illegal activities and prevent the harmful consequences associated with their use.
The Acting Comptroller also raised concerns over the seizure of 23,220 new machetes, warning that the items, allegedly smuggled without the required certificates and permits, could be used to disrupt peaceful elections in the coming months.
According to him, smuggling activities could facilitate election-related violence and other security threats if not effectively checked.
On revenue recovery, Afeni said the Unit recovered N683,661,304.05 between September 30, 2026, and the date of the briefing through compliance checks, scrutiny of import declarations, correction of under-valuation and the issuance of demand notices.
He attributed the recovery to enhanced risk profiling, targeted examination of suspicious declarations, teamwork and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Afeni assured importers, licensed customs agents and other members of the trading public that the Unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while taking firm action against duty evasion, false declarations and activities capable of undermining national security.
He said the Unit had sustained collaboration with agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Army, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.
He added that seized narcotics and suspects would be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while other prohibited items would be transferred to relevant agencies in line with their statutory responsibilities.
Afeni urged members of the public to support the anti-smuggling campaign by reporting suspicious activities and promoting lawful trade.
He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the Service for the confidence reposed in him, while assuring that the Unit would sustain intelligence-led enforcement and revenue protection.
