In a major crackdown on cross-border smuggling, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized illicit goods and petroleum products valued at over ₦1.84 billion across several South-West states.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the development during a press briefing held at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos. The operation, which spanned from June 3 to July 18, 2025, targeted notorious smuggling corridors across Lagos, Ogun, and neighboring states.
According to Adeniyi, customs operatives carried out 102 coordinated enforcement actions, leading to the seizure of a wide array of contraband. These included:
- 3,500 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to six trailer loads)
- 304kg of cannabis sativa
- 7,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in 316 jerry cans
- 54 bags and 20 bales of second-hand clothing
- 41 sacks of used shoes
- 14 used vehicles (Tokunbo)
- 148 used tyres
- 42 gas cylinders
- 31 air conditioners
- 95 cartons of frozen poultry
Customs also intercepted several containers falsely declared to evade duty payments. These included:
- A 40ft container with used tyres
- A 20ft container containing unregistered pharmaceuticals
- Two 40ft containers with mixed prohibited imports
- A shipment of used refrigerators, imported grocery items, and second-hand clothing
The duty-paid value (DPV) of these intercepted goods stood at ₦1.78 billion.
Additionally, a specialized team under Operation Whirlwind disrupted a fuel smuggling network allegedly moving PMS across the Benin Republic border. The operatives uncovered:
- 1,134 jerry cans of fuel (25–30 litres each)
- 33 drums of PMS
- 6 vehicles used for transportation
- Total fuel seized: 35,535 litres
- DPV for fuel and vehicles: ₦58.3 million
Adeniyi further revealed that ₦95.6 million was recovered from importers and clearing agents who attempted to shortchange the system through under-declaration and fraudulent documentation. These recoveries were made after issuing Demand Notices (DNs) following a review of shipping records.
Nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures. While some have been released on administrative bail, others are being handed over to relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
“These operations are part of our strategic efforts to break the backbone of smuggling cartels and safeguard Nigeria’s economy,” Adeniyi stated. “Beyond seizures, we are focused on disrupting supply chains that threaten our national energy and economic security.”
The Customs Service reiterated its commitment to intensified intelligence-led operations to curb the activities of economic saboteurs and boost legitimate trade across Nigeria’s borders.