Nigeria Customs Intercepts 11 Vehicles, Containers with Contraband Worth Over ₦1.28 Billion

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, has made a significant breakthrough in its anti-smuggling operations with the interception of 11 used vehicles and a variety of smuggled goods, all valued at over ₦1.28 billion. The seizures were made during a series of coordinated operations across the southwestern states of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo within just two weeks, marking a major success in the Service’s efforts to protect Nigeria’s economy from illegal trade.

Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, the head of the FOU Zone A, revealed the details of the operation during a media briefing in Lagos. He noted that the seizures were made possible through a combination of intelligence gathering, strategic patrols, and intensified border surveillance, aimed at dismantling the growing network of smugglers operating along Nigeria’s southwestern trade corridors.

Among the most eye-catching discoveries were 11 Tokunbo vehicles, including seven Mitsubishi Canter trucks, five Toyota Hiace buses, and three mini shuttle buses. These vehicles, suspected to have been imported illegally, were cleverly concealed in two 40-foot containers. To avoid paying the appropriate customs duties, the vehicles had been dismantled and packed in pieces—an apparent effort to deceive customs officers and evade standard import regulations. The containers were intercepted during a targeted raid at a bonded terminal in Lagos.

In addition to the vehicles, officers also uncovered a large quantity of cannabis sativa, commonly known as Indian hemp. The illicit drugs, weighing a total of 1,665 kilograms, were found concealed within a Mercedes-Benz truck. This major drug bust took place in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, during a night patrol by customs officers acting on actionable intelligence. The suspected smugglers abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene upon noticing the presence of enforcement agents. The drugs have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with Deputy Commander Abdul Maiyaki confirming their receipt and reiterating the agency’s resolve to prosecute those involved.

The unit also intercepted a truck carrying 1,263 used tyres—another item prohibited from importation into Nigeria due to safety concerns. Used tyres, often of compromised quality, are seen as dangerous to road users and are banned under Nigerian law. Comptroller Shuaibu explained that the tyres were hidden inside a Volvo truck intercepted on May 19. One suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure and is currently being investigated.

Furthermore, customs operatives seized 4,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from suspected smugglers attempting to ferry the fuel across the border in jerry cans. Fuel smuggling has remained a persistent issue along Nigeria’s porous borders, especially since the subsidy removal drove up local fuel prices, making cross-border smuggling more lucrative.

In another dramatic interception, customs officers halted a truck along the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode expressway. Inside, they discovered an assortment of uncustomed goods including bulletproof vests, cartons of Tramadol—a restricted pharmaceutical—used clothing, and other miscellaneous contraband. The truck was tracked and stopped based on surveillance reports, highlighting the Service’s growing reliance on intelligence-led enforcement.

The full list of seizures made by the FOU Zone A in the two-week period includes 2,051 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 312 bales of printed wax fabrics, 23 bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, 30 used flat-screen televisions, 65 tabletop cookers, and 31 used split-unit air conditioners. These items were smuggled in a bid to bypass Nigeria’s import regulations and avoid paying duties.

According to Shuaibu, the total duty paid value (DPV) of all the items intercepted during the period amounts to ₦1,280,508,000. In addition to the seizures, seven suspects were arrested in connection with various offenses. Some of the suspects are already assisting investigators with further information that could lead to the dismantling of smuggling rings.

Shuaibu used the opportunity to reiterate the NCS’s warning to economic saboteurs. He emphasized that the Service will continue to deploy advanced surveillance tools, collaborate with other security agencies, and apply the full weight of the law against those undermining the country’s economic development through smuggling. He also commended his officers for their resilience and professionalism, urging them to remain vigilant and committed to the mandate of revenue generation and national security.

He further appealed to the public to support the Customs Service by providing credible information and avoiding complicity in smuggling activities. “We cannot do it alone. The public has a vital role to play in safeguarding the economy,” he said.

The success of these operations is seen as a boost to the Federal Government’s campaign against smuggling and its harmful effects on local industries, government revenue, and public safety. While the NCS continues to face challenges such as inadequate equipment and the sheer size of Nigeria’s borders, it remains committed to tightening its grip on smuggling through improved strategies and inter-agency cooperation.

For now, the latest seizures serve as a strong warning to smugglers and a reminder of the increasing sophistication of Nigeria’s border enforcement efforts.