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Aside from that, the zone generated over N48 million through the issuance of Demand Notices (DNs) for improper declarations of consignments within two weeks.
Announcing the achievements in Ikeja on Wednesday, the Comptroller of Customs for FOU Zone A, Mohammed Shuaibu, stated that the record proved that the personnel attached to the zone have been working to protect the country’s economy and ensure national security.
Detailing the achievements, Shuaibu noted that 46 interceptions were recorded during the period under review, with 2,051 bags of foreign rice loaded into four trucks.
He added that 11 used vehicles, popularly known as tokumbo vehicles, 1665 kilogram (kg) of Cannabis Sativa, 4000 litres of premium motor spirit. (PMS), one white and Black J5 commercial Bus loaded with expired goods and one Volvo truck containing 180 sacks of new towels.
According to him, seven suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures, which have a duty paid value (DPV) of N1,28 billion and N48 million through the issuance of DN to importers.
“It is pertinent to state that our renewed vigor to fight smuggling and criminalities 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 who are bent on bringing our country to its knees through their nefarious activities.
“On the 23rd and 24th of May 2025, at about 0300hrs and 0230hrs, our patrol teams within Lagos metropolis acted on intelligence intercepted and seized 2X40FT containers with containers numbers (MSCU 5295718 and MRSU 5856090) respectively along Ijora-Olopa, and mile 2 axis. The examination reports of these containers revealed the following contents: Seven (7) Mitsubishi Canters, Five(5) Toyota Hiace Buses, and Three (3) Mini Shuttle Buses all cut up with their parts complete with clear intention of evade Customs duties. Other items include used bicycles, 312, Bales of printed wax, 23 Bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, and 30 used flat screens televisions, 65 table top cookers, and 31 unit of used split air conditioning and among others. The importation of these items contravenes schedule 4 of the common external tariff.
“Similarly, on the19th of May 2025 at about 0300hrs hours another patrol team intercepted a Volvo truck and investigation revealed that it contained 1263 pieces of used tyres and other goods. One suspect was also arrested.
“In the same vein, on the 19th of May 2025 at about 2300hrs, our officers on a routine patrol along Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode express way in Ogun State, intercepted one truck with registration number T24623LA suspected to be conveying uncustoms goods including Bullet Proof vests. Again, an investigation report revealed that the content included some packages of Tramadol.
“Furthermore, on the 26th of May 2025, at about 0600hrs, through intelligence-driven operations, our men on the Ijebu-Ode patrol team arrested one empty Mercedes Benz truck. Thorough rummaging of the truck and careful observation by our officers which led to uncover concealment of Cannabis Sativa (India Hemp) in the compartments of the truck. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
“Additionally, our patrol teams around the borders areas across the six (6) states of the Southwest have intensified surveillance of our borders against unscrupulous elements among Nigerians, resulting in several seizures of rice, Cannabis Sativa, used cars and other goods in a flash points of Imeko, Ilaro, Owode, Idiroko , Ilara, Ihumbo,Abeokuta, Badagry, Agbara, Gbaji, shaki and Iseyin in Oyo state”.
These seizures come on the heels of successes recorded in our anti-smuggling activities just three weeks after I resume the leadership of the unit on the 23rd of April 2025, which saw seizures of over seven trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, drugs and narcotics among others with a duty paid value of over N1.5 billion
