…Intercepts bullet-proof vests, Tramadol, others worth N1.28 billion
…Arrests seven suspects
The Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, FOU Zone A, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu has said that the renewed vigor of the officers and men of the unit to fight smuggling and criminalities through intelligence-driven operations has continued to payoff as the resilience and dedication of the operatives has inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs who are bent on bringing the country to its knees through their nefarious activities.
Comptroller Shuaibu who disclosed this in a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday stated that the patrol teams of the unit within the Lagos metropolis, on the 23rd and 24th of May, 2025, at about 0300 hrs and 0230 hrs, acted on intelligence, intercepted and seized 2X40FT containers with container numbers MSCU 5295718 and MRSU 5856090 respectively along Ijora-Olopa, and mile 2 axis.
According to him, the examination reports of those containers revealed the following contents: Seven (7) Mitsubishi Canters, Five(5) Toyota Hiace Buses, and Three (3) Mini Shuttle Buses, all cut up with their parts complete, with clear intention to evade Customs duties.
Other items, according to the Controller include used bicycles, 312 Bales of printed wax, 23 Bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, 30 used flat screens televisions, 65 table top cookers, and 31 units of used split air conditioning and among others. He explained that the importation of those items contravened schedule 4 of the Common External Tariffs, CET.
Continuing, the CAC said, “Similarly, on the19th of May, 2025 at about 0300 hrs, another patrol team intercepted a Volvo truck and investigation revealed it contained 1,263 pieces of used tyres and other goods. One suspect was also arrested.
“In the same vein, on the 19th of May, 2025 at about 2300hrs, our officers on a routine patrol along Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun State, intercepted one truck with registration number T24623LA suspected to be conveying uncustomed goods including Bullet Proof vests. Again, an investigation report revealed the content to include some packages of Tramadol.
“Furthermore, on the 26th of May, 2025, at about 0600 hrs, through intelligence-driven operations, our men on the Ijebu-Ode patrol team arrested one empty Mercedes Benz truck. Thorough rummaging of the truck and careful observation by our officers which led to uncover concealment of Cannabis Sativa (India Hemp) in the compartments of the truck. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
“Additionally, our patrol teams around the borders areas across the six (6) states of the Southwest, have intensified surveillance of our borders against unscrupulous elements among Nigerians, resulting in several seizures of rice, Cannabis Sativa, used cars and other goods in a flash points of Imeko, Ilaro, Owode, Idiroko , Ilara, Ihumbo,Abeokuta, Badagry, Agbara, Gbaji, shaki and Iseyin in Oyo state.”
Comptroller Shuaibu further disclosed that in all, forty-six (46) interceptions were recorded during the last two weeks of operations. They include 2,051 bags of 50kg each foreign parboiled rice equivalent to three (3) trailer loads, eleven (11) used vehicles, popularly known as tokunbo vehicles, 1,665kg of Cannabis Sativa, 4,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, one white and Black J5 commercial bus loaded with expired goods as well as one Volvo Truck containing 180 sacks of new towel.
He also revealed that seven (7) suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures, which have a Duty Paid Value, DPV of one billion, two hundred and eighty-five million, six hundred thousand, three hundred and eighty-three naira (N1,285, 600,383.00) only.
“These seizures come on the heels of successes recorded in our anti-smuggling activities just three (3) weeks after I resumed the leadership of the unit on the 23rd of April 2025, which saw seizures of over 7 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, drugs and narcotics among others with a Duty Paid Value of over 1.5 billion naira.
“The Nigeria Customs Service as a lead agency in border security and facilitators of trade, we are not unaware of the need to balance both responsibilities through risk management tools at our disposal. We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our operations will spare no efforts in devising different methods to counter us.
“We would like to assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent on casting aspirations on our officers who have always paid the ultimate price for the service to their country.
“As criminals get more desperate and daring, we at the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense against any antics devised by these non-state actors. The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to design and implement sustainable programs that will grow our economy, increase revenue for the government, and encourage legitimate trade.”
Informing that the seized 1,665kg of Indian hemp would be handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution, he said, “The unit continued to harden all revenue components under the unit to recover loss revenue from the evaders. Within these two (2) weeks of operations, the unit recovered a total of forty-eight million, three hundred and forty thousand, seven hundred and twenty naira, eight kobo (N48,340,720.08) only, through issuance of Demand Notices, DN from the improper declaration of consignments.”
The highlight of the event was the handing over of the seized 1,665kg of Indian hemp to the Deputy Commander of Narcotics of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Abdul A. Maiyaki.
Photo 1: Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu displaying some of the seized rice during the press briefing in Lagos, Tuesday.
Photo 2: Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, flanked by senior officers of the unit, NDLEA officials during the press briefing in Lagos, Tuesday.
Photo 3: Controller, Customs FOU Zone A, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu displays the seized bullet proof vests to Journalists on Tuesday.
Photo 4: Bullet proof vests
Photo 5: Compt Mohammed Shuaibu (right) handing over the seized Cannabis to operatives of the NDLEA.
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