FOU, Zone ‘A’, Intercepts Bullet Proof Vests, Vehicles, Cannabis Sativa, Others Worth N1.28 billion

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By Asuquo Nuwak

FOU, Zone ‘A’, Intercepts Bullet Proof Vests, Vehicles, Cannabis Sativa, Others Worth N1.28 billion

••• Arrests seven suspects and recovers N48.34 million through issuance of demand notices from improper declaration of consignments.

The Customs Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu recently welcomed members of the press, officers and personnel of the unit on Tuesday June 2025 to Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos, the Headquarters of the Federal Operations Unit FOU zone ‘A’.

The mission was to give update on some of the successes recorded by the unit barely two weeks after his inaugural briefing.

During the press briefing on the activities of the unit, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu explained to the audience that their renewed vigor to fight smuggling and criminalities through intelligence-driven operations has continued to payoff as the resilience and dedication of their operatives has inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs who are bent on bringing the country to its knees through their nefarious activities.

In attendance during the press briefing was Abdul A Mayaki, Deputy Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, Lagos state strategic command, who witnessed and received the seized 1665kg of Indian hemp for further investigation and prosecution.

He cast his mind back on 23rd and 24th of May 2025, at about 0300hrs and 0230hrs, when their patrol teams within Lagos metropolis acted on intelligence, intercepted and seized 2x40ft containers with the following container numbers MSCU 5295718 and MRSU 5856090 respectively along Ijora-Olopa, and mile 2 axis.

He told the audience that upon examination of these containers, it was discovered to contain items ranging from
seven Mitsubishi Canters, five Toyota Hiace buses, and three mini shuttle buses with their complete parts, and with clear intention to evade customs duties.

Further breakdown of the seized items included used bicycles, 312 bales of printed wax, 23 bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, and 30 used flat screens televisions, 65 table top cookers, and 31 unit of used split air conditioning, among others. According to the report, the importation of these items contravenes schedule 4 of the common external tariff.

Similarly, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu recalled that on the 19th of May 2025, at about 0300hrs, another patrol team intercepted a Volvo truck. Upon investigation it was discovered to have contained 1263 pieces of used tyres and other goods, while one suspect was also arrested in connection with the seizure.

Again, he cast his mind back on the 19th of May 2025 at about 2300hrs, when their officers on a routine patrol along Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode Express Way in Ogun state, intercepted one truck with registration number: T24623LA suspected to be conveying uncustoms goods, including bullet proof vests.

Beside, an investigation report declared the content to include some packages of Tramadol.

Beyond this, he said on the 26th of May 2025, at about 0600hrs, through intelligence-driven operations, their men at the Ijebu-Ode patrol team arrested one empty Mercedes Benz truck. In the words of Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu: “Thorough rummaging of the truck and careful observation by the officers has led to uncover concealment of cannabis sativa (India hemp) in the compartments of the truck, with one suspect arrested in connection with the seizure”.

Specifically, he said their patrol team around the border areas across the six states of the southwest have intensified surveillance of the borders against unscrupulous elements among Nigerians, which has resulted in several seizures of rice, cannabis sativa, used cars and other goods in a flash points of Imeko, Ilaro, Owode, Idiroko , Ilara, Ihumbo,Abeokuta, Badagry, Agbara, Gbaji, shaki and Iseyin in Oyo state.

Furthermore, he noted that a total of 46 interceptions were recorded during this period of two weeks of operations, which comprised 2051X50kg each of foreign parboiled rice equivalent to three trailer loads,
11 used vehicles, popularly known as tokumbo vehicles,
1665kg of cannabis sativa,
4000 litres of premium motor spirit. (PMS),
one white and black J5 commercial bus loaded with expired goods, and
one Volvo truck containing 180 sacks of new towel.

In addition to this, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, said seven suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,285, 600,383.00 billion only.

Once again, he pointed out that these seizures came on the heels of successes recorded in their anti-smuggling activities just three weeks after he resumed the leadership of the unit on the 23rd of April 2025, which saw seizures of over 7 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, drugs and narcotics among others with a Duty Paid Value of over N1.5 billion.

Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu is quoted as saying: “The Nigeria Customs Service as a lead agency in border security and facilitator of trade, we are not unaware of the need to balance both responsibilities through risk management tools at their disposal. We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our operations will spare no efforts in devising different methods to counter us”.

He assured the public that the unit will continue to remain alive to their responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent to casting aspirations on their officers who have always paid ultimate price for the service to their country.

He said as criminals get more desperate and daring, the officers at the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense against any antics devised by these non-state actors. He added that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to design and implement sustainable programs that will grow the economy, increase revenue for the government, and encourage legitimate trade.

Moreover, he said the seized 1665kg of Indian hemp will be handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution.

The unit, according to him, will continue to hardness all revenue components under the unit to recover loss revenue from the evaders. However, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu explained that within these two weeks of operations, the unit recovered a total of N48,340,720.08 million only, through issuance of demand notices (DN) from the improper declaration of consignments.

He told gentlemen of the press that
when he assumed duty at the unit, they were looking at some of their institutional activities which have been relegated to the background and looked at what they could do to boost the morales of the officers.

Beside, their major concerns were on monthly parades, weekly sporting activities, and conducive working atmosphere. Still, all of these are expected to serve as an inspiration to officers and spur them on to work harder, and keep the torch brightly burning.

He expressed great pleasure that the unit have resuscitated the monthly parades and weekly sporting activities, which he intend to invite media friends, to join them soon.

At the end of press briefing, commended their officers for their unwavering dedication, steadfastness, gallantry, and integrity which has led to these achievements.

Moreso, he thanked their stakeholders and partners, especially the media, for their modest reportage.