Zone 'A' Customs Foils 144 Smuggling Attempts, Intercepts 12 Trailers of Rice, Vehicles, Others Worth N3.3bn, ‎

‎Following the strategic enforcement operations of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) , 144 smuggling attempts were recently thwarted by the zone as the unit recorded a major breakthrough with the interception of contraband goods valued at over ₦3.3 billion.

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‎This was disclosed at the maiden press briefing of the Area Controller of Zone 'A', Comptroller Gambo Aliyu on Tuesday 3rd February, 2026 which was  held at the command  headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, which he described as his first official engagement with the media since he assumed office as the Customs Area Controller of the zone.

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‎Reaffirming the commitment of the unit to strengthening border security, protecting the economy and upholding professionalism in line with the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service,  Gambo revealed that upon assumption of duty few weeks earlier, his leadership introduced a reform agenda anchored on Change Management, Compliance Management, and Reputational Management, guided by inclusivity and respect for the rule of law and human dignity.

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Speaking further, Comptroller Aliyu Gambo said the unit reviewed its operational architecture, restructured patrol patterns, strengthened internal supervision, and adopted intelligence-driven deployments in place of predictable checkpoints, particularly within the Lagos metropolis.

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‎These changes, according to him were necessary because we cannot expect different results by doing things the old way,” he said.

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He revealed that the new operational approach yielded significant seizures which  includes, 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), equivalent to about 12 trailer loads.

‎77 bags of foreign sugar

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‎21 units of assorted used (Tokunbo) vehicles

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‎3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil (25 litres each)

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‎20,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)

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‎915 bales of used clothing

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‎One 20-foot container (SUDU 7640333) containing 20 pallets of stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets

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‎In the fight against drug trafficking, the Controller revealed that the Unit intercepted 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis, popularly known as “Ghanaian Loud,” weighing about 1,431 kilogrammes. 

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‎He noted that the seizure significantly disrupted drug supply networks and helped curb crimes associated with substance abuse, adding that the intensified anti-drug campaign was carried out against the backdrop of rising security challenges in the country, including banditry and terrorism, which are often fuelled by illicit drugs. 

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‎The CAC also announced the interception of four live pangolins along Alapa Creek in Ajilete, which were handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre. He said the action reflected Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws and discouraging illegal trade in endangered species.

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‎Comptroller Gambo further disclosed that the unit seized a total of 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle, noting that the importation violated environmental regulations and the Basel Convention which Nigeria is a signatory to and such items contain hazardous substances capable of polluting the environment and contributing to ozone layer depletion if improperly disposed of.

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‎Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures and that investigations were ongoing to ensure their prosecution in line with the law. 

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‎In line with inter-agency collaboration, Comptroller Aliyu announced that 302 packets of cannabis indica, weighing 1,425kg, would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

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Beyond enforcement, the unit intensified import and export compliance checks, addressing cases of cargo false declaration and issuing Demand Notices (DNs). Between December 10, 2025, and February 2026, Customs recovered ₦36,891,826 in additional revenue.

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‎“Our mandate is to strengthen supply chain integrity through rigorous gap analysis, while facilitating legitimate trade,” Aliyu said.

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‎In a sober reflection, Comptroller Gambo  announced that the command lost a promising officer earlier that same day in the line of duty, noting that the incident had been reported to the Service High Command.

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‎Comptroller Aliyu commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team for the opportunity to serve, he  also commended officers of the unit for their dedication and professionalism and appreciated the media for their continued support.

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‎Highlight of the briefing was the handing over of the seized illicit drugs to the representative of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and actions.

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