FOU Zone ‘A’ Smashes 473 Smuggling Attempts in 8 Weeks of Intensive Battle, As Compt. Aliyu Showcases N5.5bn Contraband Seizure

FOU Zone ‘A’ Smashes 473 Smuggling Attempts in 8 Weeks of Intensive Battle, As Compt. Aliyu Showcases N5.5bn Contraband Seizure

Comptroller GI Aliyu, Controller Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Addressing the media during the press briefing

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, has continued to brace up to its enliven oversight functions over the illicit activities of smugglers, duty evaders and economic saboteurs operating within the nation’s south west region, which constitute over 60percent of the cou

With the display of leadership versatility and brilliance under the administrative watch of Comptroller GI Aliyu, a highly revered enforcement officer of customs of high standing, the foremost anti-smuggling unit gave a carefully, well tactically inclined and robust battle against illicit activities of smugglers and economic saboteurs still operating in its jurisdiction, which translated into huge success with humongous contraband seizures recorded in the span of eight weeks.   

In the recent sweeping crackdown against activities of unscrupulous elements, the nation’s foremost anti-smuggling unit of the service delivered one of its most decisive anti-smuggling outcomes in recent times, intercepting several hundreds of illicit consignments and tightening enforcement across Nigeria’s South-West corridor.

At a recent press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, the Comptroller of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed that operatives thwarted 473 smuggling attempts within eight weeks, resulting in seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) exceeding ₦5.5 billion.

The seizures cut across staple commodities and prohibited items, including thousands of bags of foreign rice, petroleum products, used vehicles, tyre, vegetable oil, and poultry products, reflecting the scale and diversity of smuggling networks operating across Border States.

Aliyu said the Unit also intensified its anti-narcotics operations through a targeted enforcement drive code-named “Operation Hawk,” leading to the interception of 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as “Ghanaian loud,” weighing 1,540 kilograms.

In a separate intelligence-led operation, officers intercepted a vehicle along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor conveying cocaine and methamphetamine weighing a combined 6.4kg, with an estimated street value of ₦2.35 billion. Several suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

The Customs boss noted that the success of the operations was driven by a combination of advanced surveillance systems, intelligence sharing, and strengthened inter-agency collaboration, particularly with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

He added that the Unit has also embraced modern enforcement tools, including geospatial intelligence, satellite imagery, and drone surveillance, to track smuggling routes and dismantle supply chains before they reach major highways.

Beyond seizures, the Unit recorded additional revenue recoveries of over ₦97 million through compliance enforcement and issuance of demand notices on under-declared consignments.

Aliyu revealed that the Unit will soon commence phased relocation to its newly commissioned ultra-modern headquarters in Iperu, Ogun State—an operational hub expected to strengthen real-time monitoring, intelligence coordination, and inter-agency synergy.

Receiving the seized narcotics, NDLEA Commander, Kabiru I.K, commended Customs operatives for their vigilance, warning that Lagos would not serve as a safe haven for drug traffickers. He assured that investigations would be pursued to uncover those behind the illicit trade.

The FOU Zone ‘A’ reiterated its resolve to sustain pressure on economic saboteurs while supporting legitimate trade through intelligence-driven enforcement.