FOU Zone A Nets ₦3.3bn in Seizures, Busts Major Drug Syndicate, Arrests Eight
Kathy Kyari
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded seizures with a duty paid value (DPV) of over ₦3.3 billion and disrupted major smuggling and drug trafficking networks within weeks of a leadership change.
Aliyu disclosed this on Tuesday during his maiden press briefing at the unit’s headquarters in Ikeja, describing the achievements as the outcome of a deliberate shift from routine enforcement to intelligence-led operations.
“Upon assumption of duty at the Command a few weeks ago, I made a clear commitment that we will confront smuggling syndicates with renewed vigour, professional discipline, and complete respect for the rule of law and human dignity,” the Comptroller said.
“This approach would be driven by three guiding principles of Change Management, Compliance Management & Reputational Management, guided by inclusivity.”
He explained that the unit reviewed its operational strategies, patrol patterns, and internal processes to break away from predictable enforcement methods, especially within the Lagos metropolis.
“We understood from the very beginning that we could not achieve different results employing the old ways,” Aliyu stated. “Therefore, we took a careful review of our operations, deployment patterns, and internal processes to make informed decisions.”
According to him, the new approach led to the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving a wide range of prohibited and uncustomed goods. Items seized include 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice—equivalent to about 12 trailer loads—77 bags of foreign sugar, 21 units of assorted used vehicles, 3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil, 20,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 915 bales of used clothing, and a 20-foot container loaded with stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets.
A major highlight of the briefing was the interception of 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica known as “Ghanaian loud,” weighing about 1,431 kilograms. Aliyu said the operation significantly disrupted drug supply chains within the unit’s area of responsibility.
“Amidst rising crime and criminality in our country today, the unit under my watch intensified the onslaught against drug trafficking syndicates,” he said, adding that drug trafficking fuels banditry, terrorism, and other societal vices. “Drug trafficking fuels these threats by providing chemical catalyst such as Methamphetamine and others that embolden perpetrators, erode morale and destabilize the nation.”
The Comptroller also announced that the unit lost one of its officers in the line of duty on the same day as the briefing, describing the fallen officer as “one of its promising officers, who fell to the cold hands of death in the Service of our Fatherland.”
Beyond drugs and conventional smuggling, the unit also intercepted four live pangolins along the waterways of Alapa Creek, Ajilete. The endangered animals were handed over to a Wildlife Conservation Centre, a move Aliyu said underscored Nigeria’s commitment to wildlife protection laws.
Another environmentally significant seizure involved 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle. Aliyu described the interception as “a vital win for Nigeria’s environment and public safety,” citing both the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Basel Convention on the control of trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste.
“Used Compressors often carry hazardous oils, refrigerants, and residues that leach toxins into soil and emit Green House Gases,” he noted, stressing that such imports pose long-term environmental and public health risks.
In total, eight suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures, which cumulatively amounted to a DPV of ₦3,319,893,255.00.
Aliyu reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, announcing that the seized cannabis would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed in its efforts to combat smuggling, other forms of illicit trade and trans-border crimes,” he said. “The achievements recorded testify to our unwavering dedication to protecting our economy and citizenry.”
He also disclosed that the unit recovered ₦36.89 million from demand notices issued over cargo misdeclaration between December 10, 2025, and date, as part of efforts to strengthen supply chain integrity.
In his closing remarks, Aliyu expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the NCS management for the opportunity to lead the unit, while urging officers to sustain the momentum and calling on the public to support Customs with credible intelligence.
“We remain committed to fulfilling our obligations to the best of our ability,” he said. “We enjoin the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to smuggling or illicit trade… All such reports will be handled in strict confidentiality.”
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