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FOU ZONE ‘A’ THWARTS 473 SMUGGLING PLOTS, RECOVERS ₦5.5BN IN MAJOR SWEEP
By prince Benson Davies
In a sweeping eight week enforcement drive, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, has disrupted 473 smuggling operations and recovered contraband valued at over ₦5.5 billion, marking one of its most significant crackdowns this year.
Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the unit, disclosed the development during a detailed operational briefing in Lagos. He attributed the success to intensified anti smuggling measures and a renewed focus on intelligence led enforcement across the South West borders.
Aliyu said the achievements reflect the unit’s deployment of advanced surveillance systems, intelligence sharing frameworks, and stronger inter agency collaboration with other security bodies.
The seized contraband covered a wide range of prohibited and restricted goods. These include 8,794 bags of foreign rice, 22 units of used vehicles, 1,863 used refrigerator compressors classified as environmental hazards, and 31,705 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Other confiscations include used clothing, 485 used tyres, and multiple cylinders of hazardous chemicals.
“These seizures reflect our intensified resolve to enforce the fiscal policies of the Federal Government and protect the nation’s economy from saboteurs,” Aliyu said.
In a parallel effort to combat drug trafficking, the unit launched a special enforcement campaign codenamed Operation Hawk. The initiative is designed to target illicit drug networks and dismantle supply chains fueling criminality and social instability in the region.
Under Operation Hawk, officers intercepted 3,340 parcels of cannabis indica weighing approximately 1,540 kilograms. In another development along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, customs officers seized 6.35 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a green Toyota Highlander driven by a 71 year old suspect. The cocaine consignment, valued at about ₦2.35 billion, contained both powdered and crystalline variants of the drug.
The Lagos-Abidjan corridor has remained a major transit route for illicit trade and narcotics movement in West Africa due to its extensive land borders and heavy commercial traffic. Customs officials say criminal networks increasingly exploit the corridor to move drugs, arms and contraband across borders, making it a focal point for enforcement operations. Aliyu noted that sustained surveillance and intelligence sharing with regional partners are now central to disrupting these cross border smuggling chains.
Aliyu confirmed that the narcotics would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution, underscoring the importance of inter agency cooperation in tackling transnational crime.
He also warned that smuggling networks are increasingly adopting sophisticated tactics, including the use of concealed compartments and alternative routes to evade detection. This, he said, has made continuous upgrades in intelligence gathering and technology adoption a necessity.
To strengthen its response, FOU Zone ‘A’ has established a specialized intelligence unit that integrates human intelligence with open source intelligence tools. The unit is also leveraging modern technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map contraband movement patterns and improve interception success rates along vulnerable corridors.
Beyond enforcement, the unit reported significant gains in revenue recovery through compliance operations and post clearance audits. Aliyu stated that the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of seized goods stood at ₦5,504,039,720 during the period under review.
“This figure underscores the scale and effectiveness of our operations and our contribution to national revenue mobilization,” he said.
As part of its modernization drive, the Customs boss announced the imminent relocation of the unit to a newly commissioned ultra modern command headquarters in Ogun State. The facility is equipped with advanced monitoring and data analytics systems expected to enhance operational efficiency and inter agency coordination.
Aliyu stressed that the unit’s strategy is built on a careful balance between firm enforcement and seamless trade facilitation to avoid disrupting legitimate commerce. He praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his guidance and backing, reaffirming the command’s resolve to protect Nigeria’s borders and strengthen the economy. The CAC also thanked stakeholders and media partners for their ongoing support, vowing that vigilance against smuggling and illicit trade will remain unrelenting.
