The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs and other prohibited items with a duty paid value (DPV) of over ₦3.3 billion, following intensified anti-smuggling operations across its area of responsibility.
Speaking at his inaugural press briefing on Tuesday in Ikeja, Lagos, the Comptroller of the Unit, Mr. Gambo Aliyu, disclosed that officers intercepted 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica, popularly known as “Ghanaian Loud,” weighing about 1,431 kilograms. He said the seizure dealt a major blow to drug trafficking syndicates operating within the Lagos axis and disrupted supply chain networks linked to organised crime.
Aliyu noted that drug trafficking remains a major driver of insecurity, banditry and other social vices in the country, stressing that substances such as cannabis and methamphetamine embolden criminal elements, increase addiction-related health challenges and contribute to economic losses, particularly among the youth. He warned perpetrators to abandon the illicit trade or face the full weight of the law, as the resolve of the Service remains firm.
Beyond drugs, the Comptroller revealed that the intelligence-driven operations of the Unit led to the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving various prohibited and uncustomed goods. These included 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice equivalent to about 12 trailer loads; 77 bags of foreign sugar; 21 units of used vehicles; 3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil; 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS); 915 bales of used clothing; and a 20-foot container laden with stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets.
Also seized were four live pangolins intercepted along the waterways of Alapa Creek in Ajilete. Aliyu said the endangered animals were handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre, in line with Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws and curbing the illegal trade in endangered species.
In another notable interception, the Unit seized 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle. The Comptroller explained that the importation of used compressors poses serious environmental and public health risks due to the presence of hazardous oils and refrigerants that emit greenhouse gases and deplete the ozone layer. He said the seizure aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
According to Aliyu, eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the various seizures and investigations are ongoing. He added that the Command also recorded revenue recoveries of ₦36.89 million between December 10, 2025 and date, through the issuance of demand notices arising from cargo misdeclaration and other compliance breaches.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, the Comptroller announced that the seized cannabis consignments would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Aliyu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to combating smuggling, drug trafficking and other trans-border crimes, while facilitating legitimate trade. He also paid tribute to an officer of the Unit who lost his life in the line of duty on February 3, 2026, describing the sacrifice as a reminder of the risks officers face in protecting the nation.
He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Service Management for the opportunity to serve, while urging officers to sustain the momentum and calling on the public to support Customs by reporting suspicious activities.
