By Steve Agbota
Operatives of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday said that it arrested seven suspected smugglers in connection with hard drugs, bulletproof vests, and other items worth N1.285 billion in the Southwest.
The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Muhammed Shuaibu, stated this during a press briefing, saying that these seizures come on the heels of successes recorded in its anti-smuggling activities just three weeks after he resumed leadership of the unit on Tuesday, April 23, 2025, which saw seizures of over seven 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.
“It is pertinent to state that our renewed vigour to fight smuggling and criminality through intelligence-driven operations has continued to pay off, as the resilience and dedication of our operatives have inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs who are bent on bringing our country to its knees through their nefarious activities.
“On Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24, 2025, at about 0300hrs and 0230hrs, our patrol teams within Lagos metropolis, acting on intelligence, intercepted and seized two 40FT containers (MSCU 5295718 and MRSU 5856090) along Ijora-Olopa and Mile 2 axis,” he said.
According to him, examination reports of these containers revealed the following contents: seven Mitsubishi Canters, five Toyota Hiace Buses, and three Mini Shuttle Buses, all cut up with their parts complete, with clear intention to evade Customs duties.
He said other items include used bicycles, 312 bales of printed wax, 23 bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, 30 used flat-screen televisions, 65 table-top cookers, 31 units of used split air conditioners, and others. The importation of these items contravenes Schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff.
“Similarly, on Monday, May 19, 2025, at about 0300hrs, another patrol team intercepted a Volvo truck, and investigation revealed it contained 1,263 pieces of used tyres and other goods. One suspect was also arrested. In the same vein, on Monday, May 19, 2025, at about 2300hrs, our officers on routine patrol along Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun State intercepted one truck with registration number T24623LA suspected to be conveying uncustoms goods, including bullet proof vests,” he added.
He hinted that an investigation report revealed the content to include some packages of Tramadol, saying that the seized 1,665kg of Indian hemp will be handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
“Furthermore, on Monday, May 26, 2025, at about 0600hrs, through intelligence-driven operations, 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 led to uncovering concealment of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) in the compartments of the truck. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
“Additionally, our patrol teams around the border 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 flashpoints of Imeko, Ilaro, Owode, Idiroko, Ilara, Ihumbo, Abeokuta, Badagry, Agbara, Gbaji, Shaki, and Iseyin in Oyo State,” he explained.
In all, he said 46 interceptions were recorded during these two weeks of operations, comprising the following: 2,051 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to four trailer loads, 11 used vehicles, popularly known as tokunbo vehicles, 1,665kg of Cannabis Sativa, 4,000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), one white and black J5 commercial bus loaded with expired goods, and one Volvo truck containing 180 sacks of new towels.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, as a lead agency in border security and facilitator of trade, 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 effort in devising different methods to counter us.
“We would like to assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent on casting aspersions on our officers, who have always paid the ultimate price for 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 defence against any antics devised by these non-state actors. The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to design and implement sustainable programmes that will grow our economy, increase revenue for the government, and encourage legitimate trade,” he explained.