Customs FOU ‘A’ Arrests 8 Suspects in Connection with 144 Seizures Along Southwest Corridor in Five Weeks

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, has arrested 8 suspects in connection with massive seizures of smuggled items worth Three Billion, Three Hundred and Nineteen Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-Five Naira (N3,319.893,255.00) only, along South West corridor in five weeks.

The Comptroller of the Unit, Comptroller Gambo Iyere Aliyu made this known during his maiden press briefing held at Customs Training College Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, highlighting the Unit’s resolve in tackling smuggling activities through renewed vigour, professional discipline, and complete respect for the rule of law and human dignity.

An approach that is driven by three principles: Change Management, Compliance Management & Reputational Management, which are guided by inclusivity under his leadership.

Comptroller Aliyu informed that the new approach led to significant seizures including: 6,954 bags (50kg each) of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to eleven (11) trailer loads, 77 bags of foreign sugar, each weighing 50kg, 21 unit of assorted Tokunbo vehicles, 3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil 25 litres each, 20,700 litres of PMS, 915 bales of used clothing, 1 X 20FT Container (SUDU 7640333) laden with 20 Pallets of stone coated aluminium roofing sheets.

3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica, fondly called’Ghana loud’, weighing 1,431kg were also intercepted by the Unit within the period under review.

Other notable seizures are: four (4) live pangolins, and 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle.

As the economic saboteurs are bent on ruining the economy with their unpatriotic trade deals, the Unit’s intensified onslaught against the smugglers has significantly disrupted their supply chain networks, Comptroller Iyere remarked.

Amidst the celebration of the seizures, the Comptroller mourns the loss of an officer who died in the line of duty during anti-smuggling operations. An incident that highlights the risks and sacrifices made by security operatives in the fight against smuggling and narcotics trafficking (may the soul of the departed rest in peace).

While reiterating the Service’s commitment to combat illicit trade and other trans-border crimes, Iyere stressed that the milestone recorded, underscores the Unit’s unwavering dedication to protecting the economy and citizenry. “We will continue to enforce government fiscal policy and uphold professionalism in the conduct of our duties. The unit will synergise, collaborate & partner with OGA & sister security agencies, including stakeholders and border communities to suppress smuggling,” he stated.

He thus enjoined the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to smuggling or illicit trade to the Unit’s help desk as such reports will be handled with strict confidentiality.

The seized 3,029 pacels of Cannabis Indica, weighing 1, 425kg were thereafter handed over to representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution, in line with the commitment to foster inter-agency collaboration.

Comptroller Aliyu further told journalists that FOU Zone A made significant record of 36,891,826 (Thirty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Six Naira) only between 10 December 2025 to 3rd January 2026, while addressing issues related to misdeclaration of cargo and some Demand Notices (DN).

In his remarks, the representative of NDLEA, Commander of Narcotics Lagos Strategic Command, Muhammad Kabir stated that the handover of the Ghana loud demonstrates the commitment of both agencies to securing the nation and curbing illicit acts.

He also commended the Nigeria Customs Service for their diligence and relentless effort in combatting influx of Narcotics.

“A female suspect was arrested with 91 parcels of Ghana loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis sativa. The case is currently under prescription, and today, 2,938 parcels of the same substance were intercepted by the Federal Operations Unit. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will ensure the seizures are handl ed, analysed, and disposed of according to the law,” he added.