By ANDREW UTULU
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ with headquarters in Lagos said it has intensified its anti-smuggling onslaught against economic saboteurs, making massive seizures and arresting several suspected smugglers and hard drug traffickers within the Zone.
Comptroller G. I . Aliyu, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos.
According to the CAC, 473 smuggling attempts were busted within eight weeks, resulting in seizures of 8,794 bags of 50kg each of rice, which is equivalent to 15 trailer-load, 22 units of used vehicles (Tokunbo); 1,863 pieces of used refrigerator compressors, 328 bales used clothing and 1188 kegs of 25 litres each of vegetable oil.
Others are 31, 705 litres Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS), 485 pieces used tyres; 69 cartons of foreign Bonita Spaghetti, 24 bags 50kg each of foreign sugar with 5 cartons of ST Louis and 531 cartons of foreign poultry.
Comptroller Aliyu said the achievements were resultant of the Units leverage on advanced surveillance, intelligence sharing frameworks, and inter-agency collaboration.
He reaffirmed that the Unit remained firm and focused on safeguarding the nation’s borders, protecting the economy, and combating all forms of illicit activities.
“Under my humble leadership, the Unit intensified decisive measures against smugglers who would stop at nothing to undermine the enforcement of the Federal government fiscal policy measures and the provisions of the NCS Act 2023.”
He also disclosed that the Unit reinforced its anti-smuggling strategies to continuously cut supply chain networks in drug trafficking with the launch of an operation code-named “Operation Hawk.”
This according to him was aimed at curbing illicit goods trafficking, safeguarding revenue and protecting society and environment from incidences of crime, criminalities and pervasive societal vices that threaten national stability.
“Against this backdrop, the unit successfully took out 3,340 parcels of synthetic strain of cannabis indica, (Ghanaian loud), weighing 1540kg from the society. This effort is an affirmation of our commitment in the fight against drugs smuggling syndicates in the Zone. Our analysis of the trend in recent times, indicate that the traffickers are devising different methods to perpetuate illicit trade, therefore, there is the need for critical security stakeholders to upscale their intelligence sharing mechanism to cut the supply chain completely.”
He said that in addition to leveraging modern technologies for intelligence gathering, he had also constituted and effectively coordinated a specialised team responsible for integrating Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) operations, which are already yielding positive and measurable results.
He added that in another separate operation, officers and men of the Gbaji outpost while
acting on credible intelligence at about 6.45 am on Thursday, April 30, 2026, intercepted a green coloured Toyota Highlander driven by one Mr. Oni Iredia Martins, a 71-year-old man who is a Nigerian citizen suspected to be conveying narcotics substance.
The CAC disclosed that on examination of the vehicle, 6 parcels of cocaine substance, with 2 parcels of the powdered substance Cocaine weighing 2.3kg, and 4 parcels of the Methamphetamine weighing 4.1kg of crack cocaine, all totaling 6.4kg of the illicit substance, which were recovered.
He said the consignment was intercepted at Elijah Bus stop along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, and had a street value of approximately N2.35billion.
He further explained that the numerous seizures occurred across the borders in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states, adding that several defendants (suspects) were arrested in connection with these operations.
“In a clear demonstration of inter-agency collaboration, the seized 1,540kg of synthetic strain of cannabis indica (Ghanaian loud), totaling 3,340 compressed packages, together with the 6.4kg of
Cocaine and Methamphetamine have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution in courts of competent jurisdictions. These seizures underscore the operational prowess and strategic effectiveness of our operatives. They also reinforce our unwavering dedication to disrupt smuggling networks and confront economic saboteurs whose actions threaten national security and undermine the fiscal policies of the federal government headlong.”
Comptroller Aliyu revealed that in In a similar development, vigilant officers on duty, seized four cylinders of a chemical confirmed to be high grade Mercury, emphasising that the item is illegally used in small scale mining of gold and also has a dual-purpose chemical that poses significant environmental hazards and controlled by the MINAMATA Convention on Mercury.
The items, according to him, were concealed in the false bottom segment in the trunk of a Toyota Avensis, at the Gbaji outpost, along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
He said a male suspect arrested in connection with the seized item had been granted administrative bail, while investigation was on-going and had reached an advanced stage, adding that the items and the suspect would be handed over to NESREA.
The Comptroller said that in addition to the numerous physical seizures and arrests made, the Unit also achieved remarkable success in revenue recovery through sustained enforcement of compliance measures and anti-smuggling operations.
A Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N5,504,039,720.00 according to the CAC was recorded during the period under review, noting that the impressive figure was a clear testimony to the scale, intensity, and strategic effectiveness of the Unit’s operations across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo States, which underscores the Unit’s unwavering commitment to the recovery of unpaid duties, interception of under-declared consignments, and strict enforcement of the Federal Government’s fiscal policies.
He also reiterated that the N5,504,039,720.00 DPV further demonstrated the significant contribution of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ to national revenue mobilization efforts, while simultaneously dealing a heavy blow to economic saboteurs and smugglers who attempted to undermine the nation’s economic interests.
“This achievement reinforces our resolve to maintain a high level of operational efficiency
and fiscal responsibility in line with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs.
Aside enforcement operations, the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ , also plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with import and export regulations. Strengthening the integrity of the declarations on the trade value chain remains a priority. In line with the One Stop initiative of the Service, the unit continues to scrutinize questionable declarations, interdict unpaid duty and issue Demand Notices (DN) in concert with the Post Clearance Audit, where necessary.”
The Comptroller further disclosed that between February 3 and April 28, 2026, a total of N97,703,596.55) was recovered.
He averred that in alignment with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for a modern, technology-driven Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’
is aggressively advancing the digitization of its operations, highlighting that the Unit is
integrating cutting-edge technologies, particularly geospatial intelligence, to curb unwholesome practices including smuggling, under-declaration, duty evasion, and illicit trafficking.
This according to him includes the deployment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery, drone surveillance, real-time vehicle tracking, and predictive analytics to map high-risk border corridors, monitor smuggling hotspots in real time across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states, and enable proactive, intelligence-led operations, pointing out that geospatial tools allows the Unit to overlay seizure data, movement patterns of contraband such as rice, used vehicles, and narcotics, and
intelligence reports on digital maps, and facilitates better resource allocation, rapid response, and disruption of supply chains before they reach the highways.
He noted that the recent commissioning of the new state-of-the- art Command Headquarters at Iperu in Ogun State provides the perfect infrastructure backbone for this modernization drive, emphasising that the facility would host an advanced Command and Control Centre equipped for geospatial monitoring, data analytics, and seamless inter-agency collaboration with NDLEA, Police, and other security and intelligence organisations.
This technological transformation, according to him, aligned with the CGC’s vision of modernizing the NCS to meet global standards, enhance operational efficiency, improve revenue collection, and deliver faster trade facilitation while maintaining robust border security. By embracing these tools, we are not only strengthening enforcement but also creating a more transparent, accountable, and responsive Customs administration that supports legitimate trade in line with the WCO’s Safe Framework of standards.
He pointed out that while the Unit continue to maintain vigilance against smuggling, fraud and
criminalities, it also remained a strong partner in trade facilitation, ensuring the support of legitimate trade through intelligence-driven operations that strike a balance between security enforcement and economic growth, ensuring also that lawful traders are not unduly hindered in the process, noting that this is representative of the WCO Safe Framework of Standards.
“This is evident as we no longer hear or receive complains of unnecessary hindrance of cargo
movements by our stakeholders who are doing legitimate businesses along the major highways in the Zone.
He disclosed that the Unit would commence a phased movement to the newly commissioned ultra-modern Command Headquarters at Iperu in Ogun State very soon.
The Iperu Headquarters, personally commissioned by His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-
Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure. This strategic relocation is not merely a change of physical address but a transformative step in the CGC’s vision for a fully modernized and efficient Nigeria Customs Service. The phased approach will ensure minimal disruption to operations while allowing officers and men to gradually settle into the new facility. This move will significantly boost morale, enhance inter-agency collaboration, strengthen real-time monitoring of smuggling routes across the South-West, and position the Unit to deliver even greater results in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security.
“We are confident that the relocation will mark a new era of operational excellence for the Federal
Operations Unit Zone ‘A’,” Aliyu asserted.
He expressed gratitude to the indefatigable CGC Adeniyi, and his management team for their continued
guidance and for providing THE Unit with the required direction which they are thriving on. He also commended the tireless efforts of the operatives of the Unit and reaffirmed commitment to securing the nation’s borders against all forms of economic sabotage.
“We will not relent in our mission to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s trade environment and protect our
economy from illicit trade practices.” Compt. Aliyu averred.
