The Nigeria Customs Service, through its Federal Operations Unit Zone A, intercepted smuggled goods valued at N6.19 billion over a four-week period, underscoring the scale of illicit trade moving through the country's borders and its implications for import compliance and government revenue.
Acting Comptroller Oladapo Afeni disclosed the figures on Tuesday in Lagos during a news conference reported by the News Agency of Nigeria. He said the unit recorded 195 seizures of prohibited and restricted items, attributing the results to stronger intelligence gathering, surveillance and inter-agency collaboration.
The enforcement drive was carried out with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Army, NAFDAC and NESREA.
The seized consignment included 5,986 parcels of cannabis sativa and indica weighing 3,407.83 kilogrammes, 400 grammes of cocaine, 100 grammes of methamphetamine, and 57 cartons, 37 packs and six pieces of codeine syrup.
Other intercepted goods comprised 23,220 new machetes, 1,250 rounds of 12-calibre cartridges, 4,334 bags of imported rice, 173 cartons of frozen poultry products, 6,949 cartons of spaghetti, 1,236 used tyres, 21 foreign-used vehicles and 8,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
The unit also recovered eight live pangolins, 459 bales and 39 jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, 250 cartons of unregistered Lotus sardines, 101 bags of imported sugar, 20 cartons of couscous, 2,760 knocked-down office chairs and other prohibited goods.
Beyond the physical seizures, Afeni said the unit generated N683.66 million through compliance checks, scrutiny of import declarations, detection of under-valuations and demand notices between September 30 and November 3, 2026. This revenue component highlights how border enforcement functions as both a trade-control and fiscal-compliance tool.
Afeni cautioned that smuggling thrives where it is tolerated, protected or ignored, and urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities and support lawful trade. "Smuggling thrives where it is tolerated, protected or ignored. Every citizen has a role to play by reporting suspicious activities and supporting lawful trade," he said.
