Customs Seizes N3.24bn Contraband, Recovers N729m Revenue

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’) in Ikeja-Lagos, intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods valued at N3.24 billion and recovered N728.98 million in lost revenue. The seizures included 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 12 foreign-used vehicles, 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,439.9kg, 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, and 12,000 tablets of Hypnox.

Other intercepted items comprised 24,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing, 2,947 used tyres, foreign vegetable oil, and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg. Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, head of FOU ‘A’, stated that the revenue recovery demonstrated efforts to address customs fraud.

He urged compliance with customs regulations and warned of continued crackdowns on smuggling. Aliyu noted that intercepting restricted food products supports local industries and food security, while seizing illicit drugs protects public health and combats wildlife trafficking.