The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, intercepted 1,431kg of cannabis, and confiscated other contraband valued at N3.3 billion, the service announced on Tuesday.
The disclosure was made by Gambo Aliyu, Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, during a news briefing in Lagos. He stated that eight suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizures, including a female suspect linked to the cannabis haul. Tragically, the command lost one officer during the interception operation.
Mr. Aliyu highlighted that the unit had recorded 144 different types of contraband within six weeks of his resumption as head of the command in late December 2025. He attributed the success to reorganised patrol patterns, strengthened internal supervision, and a shift from predictable checkpoints to targeted deployments across Lagos.
Environmental and Wildlife Interceptions
The FOU also made notable environmental and wildlife-related seizures, including four live pangolins rescued along Alapa Creek, Ajilete, which were handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre.
In addition, 581 used refrigerator compressors were confiscated from a vehicle, posing serious environmental and public health risks due to hazardous substances and greenhouse gas emissions. Aliyu explained that this action aligns with Section 55(1)(d) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and the Basel Convention, which regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
Revenue Recovery and Enforcement
Beyond enforcement, the unit recovered N36.89 million between December 10, 2025, and February 2, 2026, through demand notices issued for cargo misdeclaration and import-export compliance breaches.
The 1,431kg of intercepted cannabis and the female suspect were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution. NDLEA officials, including the Commander of Narcotics and the Deputy Commander of Operations and Training in Lagos, Ibrahim Muhammadu-Kabir, commended the FOU for their efforts.
Mr. Aliyu confirmed that all eight suspects remain under investigation.
