Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu Intensifies Effort In Anti-smuggling Activities At FOU, Zone ‘A’
By Asuquo Nuwak
Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu Intensifies
Effort In Anti-smuggling Activities At FOU, Zone ‘A’
••• Intercepts Prohibited Goods Worth N1.5 Billion Within 3 Weeks
In pursuance of the agenda of the comptroller-General of Customs, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, Lagos, under the visionary leadership of Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, made significant impact in the area of anti-smuggling operations within three weeks which has resulted in the seizures of various items ranging from assorted dainty cars, MSKU 8551954 used tyres and vehicle, SYDU 1479614 foreign parboiled rice, MSKU 7751689 foreign parboiled rice, MSKU 798700 foreign parboiled rice, ZCSU 8845072 new shoes, ZCSU 7055181 new clothes, PIDU 4258491 new bags cannabis sativa, tramadol, premium motor spirit (pms).
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, informed newsmen that four suspects in connection with the various seizures were arrested.
Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu is quoted as stating: “Our renewed efforts have significantly bolstered our strategies to secure south western states borders against economic saboteurs”.
In addition to this, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, said within this short period of three weeks, his unit has inflicted substantial losses on non-state actors through the interception of numerous illegal goods.
In alignment with the principles of open policy advocated by the Comptroller- General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and the management team, he said, he is excited to share the achievements the Unit have made since he took over the leadership of this unit on April 23, 2025.
He said upon his arrival, he was committed to leveraging his extensive experience to effectively navigate the complexities of this unit, and he is proud to report that the Unit have remained true to that commitment.
Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, who handed over some seizures to NDLEA and NAFDAC officials, also took time out to show journalists container load of seized tyres.
In the area of revenue generation, he said the unit has generated revenue primarily through the interventions executed by the personnel, issuing demand notices (DN) where shortfalls are identified, and conducting auction sales of seized perishable goods.
Beside, he said as of today, they have successfully recovered a total of N20, 792, 372.99 only, through the issuance of demand notices from irregular importation and auction sales of seized petroleum products.
In the area of anti-smuggling operations Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, said since he took over his role, he has initiated a transformation of operational strategies, which is moving away from traditional stop-and-search methods to more intelligence-driven operations that reduce unnecessary delays.
Following the on-going battle against illicit trade, he said their team acted on credible intelligence, successfully intercepted and seized 7X20ft containers filled with various illicit items within Lagos metropolis.
Aside from this, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, said the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in its efforts to combat smuggling, counterfeit products, and other forms of illicit trade. These achievements testify to our unwavering dedication to protecting our economy and citizens. He therefore promised to continue to collaborate with sister security agencies and border communities to dismantle the networks engaged in illicit activities.
In line with the mandate of the NCS to foster inter-agency collaboration, he said the seized 246kg of cannabis sativa will be handed over to the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the tramadol capsules to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and prosecution.
He encouraged the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to smuggling or illicit trade. He also urged the declarants to remain honest in their declarations to avoid unnecessary bottleneck.
In the area of trade facilitation, he said in an era characterized by increasing global integration, efficient trade facilitation is vital for unlocking economic potential, creating jobs, and fostering regional integration. He promised to take this responsibility seriously.
Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu pointed out that their intelligence driven operations are designed to create a more efficient, transparent, and inclusive trading environment that will benefit their stakeholders and the public through barrier-free operations, as they intend to collapse all patrol points within Lagos metropolis.
At the end, he expressed his gratitude to the CGC and the management team for this opportunity once again to serve as comptroller FOU, Zone ‘A’.
In light of this, he said he will remain committed to fulfilling their responsibilities to the best of their ability. Furthermore, he commended dedicated officers, and urged them to maintain this momentum. Moreover, he extended his appreciation to the media for their unwavering continued support of their efforts.
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