The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service said it has foiled 473 smuggling attempts across the South-West, seizing a wide range of contraband and narcotics in operations spanning recent months.
Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Aliyu Gambo, disclosed this on Tuesday at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, attributing the successes to enhanced surveillance, intelligence-sharing and inter-agency collaboration.
Among the items intercepted were 15 trailer-loads of rice, 22 used vehicles, 1,863 refrigerator compressors, 328 bales of used clothing, 1,188 kegs of vegetable oil, 31,705 litres of petrol, 485 used tyres, cartons of spaghetti and sugar, and 531 cartons of poultry products.
Gambo said the Unit had intensified its anti-smuggling drive with a targeted operation, codenamed “Operation Hawk”, aimed at dismantling illicit supply chains. This led to the seizure of 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as ‘Ghanaian loud’, weighing 1,540kg.
He warned that traffickers were adopting increasingly sophisticated methods, underscoring the need for stronger intelligence coordination among security agencies to disrupt networks.
In a separate operation, Customs officers at the Gbaji outpost intercepted a Toyota Highlander along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, recovering 6.4kg of cocaine and methamphetamine concealed in the vehicle. The suspect, a 71-year-old Nigerian, was arrested, while the drugs — valued at about ₦2.35 billion — were seized.
Gambo said all narcotics would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.
He also revealed the seizure of four cylinders of high-grade mercury, hidden in a modified vehicle. The substance, used in illegal gold mining and regulated under international conventions due to its environmental risks, will be transferred to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.
The Unit recorded a Duty Paid Value of ₦5.5 billion from seizures during the period, reflecting what Gambo described as the scale and impact of its operations across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo states. Additionally, ₦97.7 million was recovered through demand notices issued over underpaid duties between February and April.
He said the Unit was ramping up digital enforcement tools, including geospatial intelligence, satellite imaging, drones and real-time tracking, to monitor high-risk corridors and combat smuggling more effectively.
Gambo added that preparations were underway for a phased relocation to a new command headquarters in Iperu, Ogun State, aimed at strengthening operations, boosting morale and enhancing collaboration.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders and curbing economic sabotage, while commending the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs for its continued support.