The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted smuggled goods worth over N1 billion in the past four weeks.
Speaking in Lagos, Comptroller Kola Oladeji stated that the seized items have a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.7 billion.
He emphasized that operatives have intensified border surveillance across the southwestern states to curb smuggling activities.
Oladeji highlighted that the crackdown on economic saboteurs aligns with the service’s Key Performance Indicators (KPI), which include revenue generation, smuggling suppression, and trade facilitation.
He noted that these efforts have led to significant successes under the ongoing operation codenamed ‘Swift Sting Operations.’
The unit recorded 82 interceptions in the past month, seizing 3,832 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice—equivalent to seven trailer loads—along with 27 used ‘Tokunbo’ vehicles, 494 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) totaling 14,820 liters, 27 bales of used clothing, and 95 bags of charcoal.
Additionally, 3,643kg of cannabis sativa will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
The unit also recovered N72.44 million through Demand Notices (DN) issued due to irregular consignment declarations.
Oladeji reaffirmed the commitment to enforcing the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 to prevent revenue losses and regulate import and export activities.