The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has made a major breakthrough in its fight against smuggling and illicit imports, with recent seizures valued at over ₦3.2 billion. The announcement was made today by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller BO Olomu, during a press briefing held at the command headquarters.
Speaking to journalists, Comptroller Olomu detailed a series of significant interceptions resulting from intensified anti-smuggling operations. He stated unequivocally that the command, under his leadership and guided by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, would not compromise compliance in the name of trade facilitation.
“On my watch, compliance will not be sacrificed on the altar of trade facilitation,” Olomu said, reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from harmful imports.
Among the seizures were six containers filled with prohibited and undeclared goods. These included unregistered pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, used clothing, and two stolen vehicles smuggled into the country. The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized goods stands at N3.2billion.
The most notable seizures were two containers: Container No. SUDU 8685733 (40FT): Contained 1,698 cartons of RTPL CSC cough syrup with codeine concealed in 202 packages of water closets and Container No. MRSU 4846204 (40FT): Held 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup hidden within toilet seats.
Together, these two containers alone have a street value of ₦2.71 billion. Their interception, according to Olomu, was achieved through international collaboration and coordination with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Other seizures include: Container No. ONEU 1153150: Held 1,584 packages of anti-mark and Clobetasol creams falsely declared as truck tyres; Container No. MRSU 3258823: Contained a range of unregistered pharmaceuticals, including Rabeprazole injections and Vancomycin hydrochloride, falsely declared as kitchenware and tables; Container No. MRKU 0904594: Discovered to contain two luxury vehicles stolen from Canada — a 2024 Lexus RX 450 and a 2023 Lexus RX 350 — falsely declared as food items and Container No. SEKU 4716830: Contained 390 bales of used clothing in violation of Nigeria’s import prohibition laws.
Olomu warned that these items posed serious threats to public health and national security, describing the smugglers as “merchants of death.”
“In addition to breaching the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, these imports contravene the World Customs Organization’s Operation STOP IV — a global enforcement action against counterfeit and unauthorised medical supplies,” he said.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures and are currently under investigation.
The command has also recorded impressive revenue figures. Comptroller Olomu announced that the Apapa Command has collected over ₦1.094 trillion as of 21 May 2025, crossing the one-trillion-naira threshold in less than five months.
“Our chronicle of outstanding revenue collection speaks boldly for us,” he stated, citing daily record collections of ₦18.2 billion in October 2024, ₦18.9 billion on 14 March 2025, and ₦18.919 billion on 20 May 2025.
The Comptroller issued a stern warning to those attempting to use Apapa Port for illegal activities.
“Apapa Port will remain a no-go area for any unlawful activity,” Olomu warned. “Our officers are ever ready to uncover concealments, effect seizures, and carry out arrests where necessary.”
The briefing concluded with a display of some of the seized items, reinforcing the command’s zero-tolerance approach to smuggling and unsafe imports.