By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, has intercepted seven 20-foot containers loaded with contraband goods valued at ₦1.5 billion within Lagos State.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, made the disclosure on Friday while presenting the seized items to journalists. He stated that the seizures were made between April 23 and the present date as part of ongoing operations to clamp down on smuggling and other illicit trade activities.
“In a significant achievement, our team, acting on credible intelligence, successfully intercepted seven 20-foot containers carrying various prohibited items within the Lagos metropolis,” Shuaibu said.
He identified the intercepted goods to include used tyres and vehicles (MSKU 8551954), foreign parboiled rice (SYDU 1479614, MSKU 7751689, MSKU 798700), new shoes (ZCSU 8845072), new clothes (ZCSU 7055181), and new bags (PIDU 4258491).
Shuaibu further revealed that the unit raised ₦20.7 million in revenue during the same period through the issuance of demand notices on under-declared imports, and also conducted auction sales of perishable goods.
In addition to the container seizures, the unit impounded several other smuggled items, including:
4,085 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to seven trailers)
15 foreign-used vehicles
82 packs of tramadol
246 kilograms of cannabis sativa
290 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
12 bales and four sacks of used clothing
Four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
The total duty-paid value (DPV) of the intercepted goods is estimated at ₦1.5 billion.
“We remain resolute in our mission to protect the economy and safeguard the lives of Nigerians from the dangers of illicit trade,” Shuaibu stated.
He added that the cannabis sativa would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while the tramadol would be transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The Customs boss reiterated the unit’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency collaboration. He urged the public to report suspicious smuggling activities and advised importers and declarants to make honest declarations to avoid legal consequences.
“As part of our effort to streamline operations, we plan to collapse all unnecessary patrol points within the Lagos metropolis to ensure smoother, more efficient enforcement activities,” he concluded.
