The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone C, Owerri, says it has seized smuggled goods worth over N1 billion in duty-paid value between March 20, 2025, and now.
The Customs Area Controller of the zone, Comptroller Bashir Balogun, disclosed this on Thursday, April 17, during a press briefing with journalists in Owerri, Imo State. He said the seizure was part of a series of enforcement operations aimed at tackling smuggling activities across the South-East and South-South regions of the country.
Balogun explained that a total of N13.4 million was also recovered through demand notices issued to defaulting importers and traders within the same period. He said the achievement was the result of a consistent and intelligence-led crackdown on smugglers.
“In just under a month, we intercepted contraband with a total duty-paid value of one billion naira. This is a result of hard work and a dedicated approach to blocking all illegal trade routes,” Balogun stated.
He described smuggling as a threat to Nigeria’s economy, saying it harms local businesses, reduces government revenue, and affects the well-being of law-abiding citizens. He also warned that the command will not allow smugglers to continue sabotaging the nation’s economy.
Among the seized items were 725 bales of second-hand clothes, 2,762 rolls of satin fabric (each 60 yards long), 2,589 used tyres, 233 sacks and 14 bags of foreign rice, 181 rolls of wall coverings, 102 bottles of diesel (75cl), and 80 jerrycans of petrol.
Others included 78 jerrycans of crude oil, 32 new tyres, 25 bales of cannabis sativa, 24 bottles of diesel (150cl), three cartons of red wine, a sack of used shoes, one Scania truck with registration number, a Mercedes truck, two Mack trucks, and two 50ft empty containers.
Balogun stated that the command’s success was driven by focus, professionalism, and a strong desire to protect the economy. He praised the officers and men of the unit for their effort and commitment.
“We are here to enforce the law, block revenue leakages, and protect local industries. Our team is professionally trained and ready to deal with non-compliant traders,” he said.
He also promised that the seized cannabis would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in line with inter-agency collaboration protocols.
The CAC assured that the unit would continue to improve its operations and work closely with other security and regulatory agencies to ensure illegal goods are not allowed into the country.
Balogun reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, in achieving national security and economic goals.
He called on traders and importers to be law-abiding and comply with trade regulations, saying that officers would keep checking illegal activities and block all channels of revenue loss.
“We are not going to relax. Our job is to protect the economy and make sure only legitimate trade passes through our borders,” he said.
