The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (Zone A), Ikeja, has announced the arrest of a 71-year-old man caught transporting 6.35kg of cocaine hidden inside a Toyota Highlander vehicle, with an estimated street value of about N2.35bn.
The interception, which took place along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, was part of a broader anti-smuggling crackdown that also led to the seizure of contraband goods worth over N5.5bn within the past eight weeks.
According to the Customs Area Controller, Gambo Aliyu, the suspect was arrested during intelligence-led operations targeting narcotics and smuggling networks operating across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo States.
He disclosed that officers also foiled 473 smuggling attempts during the period under review, marking a significant escalation in enforcement activities across the zone.
Other seized items include 8,794 bags of foreign rice (equivalent to about 15 trailer loads), 22 used vehicles, 1,863 used refrigerator compressors, 328 bales of used clothing, 31,705 litres of premium motor spirit, 1,188 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 531 cartons of poultry products, 485 used tyres, and 69 cartons of spaghetti.
Customs officers also intercepted hazardous materials, including four cylinders of mercury weighing 80kg each, a substance regulated under international environmental agreements due to its toxic nature.
Aliyu further revealed that a special operation tagged “Operation Hawk” led to the seizure of 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,540kg, aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks.
He added that the unit recovered N97.7m in unpaid duties through enforcement actions between February and April 2026, as part of efforts to improve revenue compliance.
The total duty-paid value of all seized items was estimated at N5.5bn, reflecting what Customs described as intensified efforts against economic sabotage and illegal trade activities.
The service also confirmed that the seized drugs have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for investigation and prosecution, while hazardous materials will be transferred to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Aliyu said the unit is increasingly adopting digital surveillance tools such as geospatial intelligence, drone monitoring, and predictive analytics to strengthen anti-smuggling operations nationwide.
