Major Customs Crackdown in Southwest Nigeria
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a significant breakthrough in its ongoing anti-smuggling operations in Nigeria's southwestern states (Zone A), conducted between June 3 and July 18, 2025. These coordinated efforts have led to the seizure of various contraband goods and the disruption of a major syndicate involved in the illegal export of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to the Benin Republic. The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seized items is estimated at over N1.84 billion. Nine suspects have been arrested in connection with these crimes.
Key Seizures and Operations:
The operations, spearheaded by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A and "Operation Whirlwind" within the Customs' Zone A command, targeted numerous notorious smuggling routes and flashpoints in Lagos and Ogun states, including Ajilete, Ijoun, Ilaro, Badagry, Owode Idiroko, Eree Ado-Odo, and Obada Imeko.
Among the notable items intercepted were:
Foreign Parboiled Rice: 3,500 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to six trailer loads, indicating a persistent attempt to smuggle staples into the country.
Narcotics: 304 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp), highlighting the efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking.
Petroleum Products (PMS): A substantial amount of 35,535 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was seized. This includes:
7,900 liters packed in 316 jerry cans of 25 liters each, intercepted by the FOU.
35,535 liters (comprising 1,134 jerry cans of 25-30 liters each and 33 drums of fuel), uncovered by "Operation Whirlwind." These products were cleverly concealed in vehicles and being prepared for illegal export to the Benin Republic. The DPV for these seized petroleum products and their conveying vehicles alone stands at approximately N58.36 million.
Used Goods: Large quantities of prohibited used items, including:
54 bags and 20 bales of used clothing.
41 sacks and bags of used footwear.
14 units of used (tokunbo) vehicles.
148 pieces of used tyres.
42 used gas cylinders.
Other Contraband: Also seized were 31 units of air conditioning systems and 95 cartons of frozen poultry products, which are typically restricted imports.
Misdeclared Containers: Customs also uncovered several containers that had been falsely declared to evade appropriate duties. These included:
A 40-foot container fully loaded with used tyres (container number TRHU 83907321).
A 20-foot container containing unregistered medicaments (container number ONEU241369).
Two 40-foot containers (MSKU 4796036 and MAEU 9205708) with various restricted goods, including used refrigerators, imported groceries, and second-hand apparel. The total DPV for these misdeclared containers is estimated at N1.78 billion.
Impact of PMS Smuggling and Customs' Efforts:
The smuggling of PMS from Nigeria to neighboring countries like Benin Republic is a long-standing issue primarily driven by price disparities, especially when fuel is subsidized in Nigeria. This illicit trade causes significant revenue losses for the Nigerian government and puts immense pressure on the nation's domestic fuel supply chain, often contributing to scarcity and long queues at filling stations.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, emphasized that these seizures highlight the efficiency and precision of Customs' anti-smuggling operations and demonstrate the agency's commitment to fighting economic sabotage and protecting national energy security. The NCS is intensifying intelligence-led enforcement across all commands to make the importation and exportation of contraband a thing of the past.
In addition to these seizures, the FOU Zone A also recovered N95.59 million in underpaid duties within the same period, further underscoring the comprehensive nature of the Customs' crackdown. While some of the nine arrested suspects have been granted administrative bail, others are being handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
