FOU Zone A Generates Over N20m from Seized Petroleum Products, Records Massive Anti-Smuggling Gains

Kathy Kyari

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated N20,792,372.99 through demand notices and auction sales of seized petroleum products, according to the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu.

Shuaibu, who assumed office on April 23, 2025, made the disclosure during his maiden press briefing at the unit's Ikeja headquarters in Lagos. He emphasized the unit's commitment to leveraging operational experience to tackle the complexities of customs enforcement in the zone.

“The unit has also recorded significant successes in its anti-smuggling operations, intercepting and seizing 7x20ft containers filled with various illicit items within the Lagos metropolis,” he said.

The intercepted goods include used tyres and vehicles, foreign parboiled rice, new shoes, and new clothes. In addition, the unit seized 4,085 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 15 illegally imported foreign-used vehicles, 82 packs of Tramadol, and 246 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa. The total duty paid value (DPV) of the seizures stands at a staggering N1,501,312,425.00.

Comptroller Shuaibu reaffirmed the service’s zero tolerance for smuggling, counterfeiting, and other illicit trade practices. He commended the dedication of his officers and urged them to keep up the good work.

The seized cannabis will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while the tramadol capsules will be transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and prosecution.

He also called on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. “The unit’s intelligence-driven operations are designed to create a more efficient, transparent, and inclusive trading environment that will benefit stakeholders and the public,” he stated.

Shuaibu said the unit will continue to partner with sister security agencies and border communities to dismantle smuggling networks, in line with the Nigeria Customs Service’s inter-agency collaboration policy.

Expressing appreciation for the trust placed in him by the Comptroller-General of Customs and the NCS management, he said, “The unit’s efforts are aimed at unlocking economic potential, creating jobs, and fostering regional integration. With the unit’s commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities, the future of trade facilitation in Nigeria looks bright.”