Customs Intercept 8 Trucks Of Smuggled Rice, Petrol, Others Worth N1.2bn

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja, has intensified its anti-smuggling operations crossed the South-West, intercepting contraband goods worthy implicit N1.2 cardinal wrong six weeks.

The seizures see 8 trucks afloat laden with smuggled overseas parboiled rice, 11,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), cannabis sativa, 15 tokunbo vehicles, 143 bales of utilized clothing, and a 20-foot instrumentality falsely declared arsenic calcium lactate, among different prohibited items.

Addressing journalists successful Lagos connected Tuesday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, said the items were seized crossed the borderline corridors of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos States, adding that 4 suspects were arrested successful transportation with the illicit trade.

He noted that the Unit’s sustained intelligence-driven operations and precocious surveillance systems person led to 125 palmy interceptions, reinforcing the Service’s determination to safeguard Nigeria’s economy, support consumers, and curb the influx of banned goods.

“Continuing our decisive measures against smugglers who undermine Nigeria’s economy, the FOU A has sustained momentum done intelligence-driven operations aimed astatine curbing illicit goods trafficking, safeguarding revenue, and protecting consumers from hazardous and counterfeit products.

“Our portion has reinforced anti-smuggling strategies crossed the southwestern states of Nigeria by leveraging precocious surveillance and intelligence-sharing frameworks. This has resulted successful 125 palmy interceptions wrong 6 weeks of operations.”

“5,015 bags of 50kg, equivalent to 8 trucks of afloat laden smuggled overseas parboiled rice, 11,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), cannabis sativa, among others, worthy N1.2billion.

Also intercepted are 15 utilized tokunbo vehicles; 143 bales of utilized clothing; 2 jumbo sacks of utilized shoes; 390 bottles of Codeine; 310 foreign-branded drugs, and 19 cards of tramadol; 210 pieces of utilized tyres and 1X20ft instrumentality of ONEU 2419369 FTC containing 752 Ctns of Calcium lactate intercepted for mendacious declaration.”

The Customs brag further stated that the seized pharmaceuticals and Cannabis Sativa would beryllium handed implicit to the applicable authorities agencies for further investigation.

Speaking further, Compt. Shuaibu further reiterated that the national authorities prohibition connected importation of overseas parboiled atom done the onshore borders inactive exists, hence the portion volition proceed to inflict dense losses connected smugglers.

“A Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.2billion was recorded during this period, reflecting the standard of our operations. Demonstrating our committedness to inter-agency collaboration, the seized pharmaceuticals and Cannabis Sativa volition beryllium handed implicit to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), respectively.

“It is pertinent to re-echo that the 2016 national authorities fiscal argumentation that bans the importation of overseas parboiled atom done onshore borders is inactive enforced. Therefore, fto maine pass immoderate selfish and unpatriotic individuals who proceed to defy this regularisation that our men volition proceed to inflict dense losses connected their ill-fated mission

“These seizures reaffirm our operational capableness and underscore our resoluteness to continuously face economical saboteurs who endanger nationalist information and undermine national authorities policies.

“Additionally, the Federal Operations Unit Zone A continues to enforce import and export compliance by addressing undervaluations and issuing request notices.

Between 1st September and 7th October 2025, a full of N39 cardinal was recovered.

“While maintaining rigorous enforcement to basal retired economical saboteurs, we stay arsenic committed to facilitating morganatic commercialized and ensuring that lawful businesses run without unnecessary hindrance.

“In conclusion, the Federal Operations Unit Zone A remains unwavering successful its committedness to combating smuggling and safeguarding Nigeria’s economy. The portion has achieved important seizures of illicit goods crossed cardinal southwestern borderline points done sustained intelligence-led operations and the strategical deployment of precocious surveillance technologies, underscoring our dedication to protecting gross and nationalist health.

“FOU A volition proceed to intensify these efforts to unafraid Nigeria’s borders, uphold nationalist security, and lend meaningfully to the maturation and stableness of our nation’s economy.”