The Federal Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, on Tuesday, announced the interception of a 1x40ft Container loaded with 4,410 pieces of export-bound dry donkey skin in Lagos.
Comptroller, FOU Zone A, Kola Oladeji who disclosed to journalists put the street value of the consignment at N4.236 billion.
He said that the seizures were part of the ongoing enforcement operations by the unit from December 25, 2024, to February 4, 2025.
Oladeji told journalists at the Customs Warehouse in Ikeja that six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
Comptroller Oladeji also revealed that 21 units of exotic cars valued at about N561.3 million were recovered from suspected smugglers in the South-West region of the country.
He itemised the seizures to include 3,031 bags of rice valued at N398 million, 2,725 parcels of cannabis sativa valued at N218 million, 397 kegs of petrol valued at N1.6 million, 118 cartons of frozen poultry products valued at N2.8 million, 105 bales of second-hand clothing valued at N12.6 million, 21 units of exotic cars valued at N561.3 million and 4,410 dry donkey skin valued at N4.240 billion.
He added that the intercepted Cannabis sativa weighing 1,378kg will be handed over to the relevant agency for further investigation.
He recalled that the federal government in 2016, as part of its fiscal policy, prohibited foreign parboiled rice from being imported through the land border but only through the seaport with payment of requisite revenue.
“However, for selfish gains, some unpatriotic individuals have continued to defy this restriction, which negatively impacts the national economy and distorts national trade data.
“It is also imperative to inform the public that foreign frozen poultry products are prohibited from import by trade under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, particularly schedule III of the CET.”
Oladeji said, “Six defendants were arrested in connection with various prohibited goods and cannabis sativa. Some of them have been granted administrative bail while the investigation is ongoing on these cases.”
On revenue collected within the same period, he stated that through regular documentation checks and profiling of suspected irregular import documents, the sum of N60,902 million was generated by the unit.
“Our resolve and commitment to tame smuggling and illegal cross-border movement of goods in 2025 has informed the adoption of measures and strategies which include the improvement of existing robust relationships with leaders of border communities and traditional rulers, creation of awareness and education of the public on the dangers of smuggling to the economy and the strict enforcement of the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 and prosecution of offenders to show deterrence,” he said.
He warned unscrupulous and unpatriotic individuals to have a change of heart by engaging in legitimate trades in 2025 “as our ongoing ‘Swift Sting Operation’ will not spare all acts of economic sabotage in the New Year.”
For the legitimate importers, traders and Authorised Economic Operators (AEO), the Comptroller said his doors are open for consultation and collaboration “as we intend to re-engineer our trade facilitation systems in line with the Federal Government Policy on Ease of Doing Business.”
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