Customs FOU zone ‘A’ Seizes 8 Trailers of Rice and Contraband Worth ₦1.18 Blion within a six-week
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stepped up its fight against smuggling, making significant seizures including 5,015 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice—equivalent to eight trailer loads—along with other contraband valued at over ₦1.18 billion within a six-week period.
Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu announced this during a press briefing at the Unit’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday. He explained that the confiscations resulted from intelligence-led operations conducted across Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos states.
Between September 1 and October 7, 2025, the unit successfully intercepted 125 shipments in a continued effort to curb smuggling and economic sabotage.
Other items seized include 15 used (Tokunbo) vehicles, 640 parcels of Cannabis Sativa weighing approximately 431.8kg, 460 jerrycans containing 11,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 143 bales of used clothing, 390 bottles of Codeine, foreign-branded pharmaceuticals, 19 boxes of Tramadol, 210 used tires, and a 20-foot container of Calcium Lactate declared falsely.
Shuaibu noted that the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seized goods amounts to ₦1,188,830,600, highlighting the scale of the enforcement operation.
He further disclosed that four suspects were arrested in connection with these activities and will be handed over to appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
The Comptroller reaffirmed the Customs Service’s commitment to enforcing the federal government’s ban on importing foreign parboiled rice through land borders, warning that “selfish and unpatriotic individuals who flout this ban will face severe consequences.”
“Our officers will continue to disrupt these illegal operations and impose heavy losses on smugglers,” he said, emphasizing that the seizures demonstrate the unit’s strong operational capacity and determination to tackle economic threats undermining national security and government policies.
Demonstrating strong inter-agency cooperation, Shuaibu handed over the confiscated Cannabis Sativa and pharmaceutical products to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), respectively.
He also revealed that the unit recovered ₦39,269,688.71 through demand notices and enforcement actions targeting importers involved in under-valuation and other forms of duty evasion within the period.
