Nigeria Customs Seizes Contraband Worth Over ₦1.28 Billion in South-West Operations

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has announced the interception of contraband goods valued at over ₦1.28 billion during intensified anti-smuggling operations across the South-West region.

Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, the Unit’s Controller, disclosed that the seizures were made between May 19 and May 26, 2025, as part of intelligence-driven efforts to curb smuggling activities. The confiscated items include:

• Eleven used vehicles (commonly referred to as tokunbo), comprising seven Mitsubishi Canters, five Toyota Hiace buses, and three mini shuttle buses, all dismantled to evade customs duties.

• 1,665 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa concealed within a Mercedes-Benz truck.

• 1,263 used tyres discovered in a Volvo truck

• Bulletproof vests and packages of Tramadol found in a truck intercepted along the Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode expressway.

• 2,051 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to four trailer loads.

• 4,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

• Various other items, including used bicycles, 312 bales of printed wax, 23 bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, 30 used flat-screen televisions, 65 tabletop cookers, and 31 units of used split air conditioners.

Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with these seizures. The NCS has handed over the confiscated Cannabis Sativa to relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution.

Comptroller Shuaibu emphasized the NCS’s commitment to combating smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s economy. He stated, “Our renewed vigour to fight smuggling and criminality through intelligence-driven operations has continued to pay off, as the resilience and dedication of our operatives have inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs.

The NCS urges the public to support its efforts by providing timely information on smuggling activities and assures continued vigilance in safeguarding the nation’s borders.