By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos, has seized contraband worth over ₦5.5 billion in a major crackdown on smuggling and drug trafficking across the South-West over the past eight weeks.
Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday to journalists, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu said the operations targeted key smuggling routes and criminal networks, leading to the interception of high-value items, including cocaine valued at ₦2.35 billion and large quantities of foreign rice.
He said the sustained enforcement drive reflects the unit’s commitment to disrupting illicit trade and protecting the economy from illegal imports.
Aliyu noted that the unit foiled no fewer than 473 smuggling attempts during the period, recovering 8,794 bags of 50kg foreign rice—about 15 trailer loads—alongside 22 used vehicles, 328 bales of second-hand clothing, and 31,705 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). He added that the seizures highlight the continued persistence of smuggling networks despite intensified enforcement.
He explained that the rice displayed at the briefing represented cumulative seizures made at different locations and times, reflecting the widespread nature of smuggling activities across the zone.
The Customs boss also raised concerns over the growing threat of drug trafficking, warning that it continues to fuel crime, addiction, and social instability, particularly among young people.
“Drug trafficking is destroying lives and families. Our focus is to break the supply chain and reduce its impact on society,” he said.
Further highlighting the scale of the operation, Aliyu disclosed that officers also seized 531 cartons of foreign poultry products, 1,188 kegs of vegetable oil, 485 used tyres, and several cartons of spaghetti and sugar through coordinated enforcement and intelligence-driven operations.
In a major breakthrough, operatives at the Gbaji outpost intercepted a 71-year-old suspect along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor with 6.35kg of cocaine concealed in a Toyota Highlander. The drugs have an estimated street value of ₦2.35 billion.
He added that under a special operation codenamed “Operation Hawk,” the unit also intercepted 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as “Ghanaian loud,” weighing 1,540kg. The drugs will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Aliyu further revealed that operatives intercepted four cylinders of mercury concealed in a vehicle along the same corridor, describing the substance as highly hazardous and regulated under international conventions.
On revenue enforcement, he said the unit also recovered ₦97.7 million through Demand Notices issued on under-declared consignments as part of efforts to curb revenue leakages.
He reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to deploying modern tools such as geospatial intelligence, drone surveillance, and real-time tracking to strengthen border security and sustain the fight against smuggling.
The arrested 71-year-old suspect has been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) alongside the seized drugs for further investigation and prosecution.
