*Mourns Officers Who Paid the Supreme Price
No fewer than eight persons have been arrested over their alleged roles in the smuggling of contrabands into the country.
The eight suspects whose identities were not revealed were said to have masterminded the smuggling of the goods which Maritime Bits checks revealed are contained in the Import Prohibition List (IPL) and Export Prohibition List (EPL)
The IPL and EPL are compiled by the Federal Ministry of Finance based on the Federal Government fiscal policies and it is managed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos, Comptroller G. I Aliyu who made public the arrest of the eight suspects in his inaugural press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos recently also stated that his new approach led to significant interception of no fewer than 144 smuggling attempts with goods of different brands.
His words: “Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures, which have a duty paid value (DPV) of N 3,319.893, 255. 00 only”.
These items include 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg each equivalent to eleven (12) trailer loads; 77 bags of foreign sugar, each weighing 50kg; 21 unit of assorted tokunbo vehicles; and 3,362 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil 25 litres each.
Others are 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS); 915 bales of used clothing; as well as 1 X 20FT container (SUDU 7640333) 20 pallets of stone coated aluminum roofing sheets.
The CAC also revealed that one officer whose name and rank he did not disclosed paid the supreme price in the course of NCS operation.
Aliyu’s words: “Relative to these operations, the command just this morning, February 3, 2026 lost one of its promising officers who fell to the cold hands of death in the service of our fatherland. This loss has already been communicated to the service high Command.”
Following the development, a minute silence in honour of the deceased officer was observed by those who attended the occasion which took place at NCS Training College, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Customs Chief also disclosed that amidst what he called the “rising crime and criminality in our country today”, the unit under his watch intensified onslaught against drug trafficking syndicates within the area of its operation through the interception of 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica, ‘Ghanaian loud’, weighing 1,431kg.
“This singular move significantly disrupted supply chains networks. These efforts occurred against the backdrop of spiraling incidences of banditry, terrorism and pervasive societal vices that threaten national stability”, he added.
According to Aliyu, drug trafficking fuels these threats by providing chemical catalyst such as methamphetamine and others that embolden perpetrators, erode morale and destabilize the nation. The effects ripple through public spaces, increase health burdens from addiction related illnesses, with attendant economic losses from youth unemployment among others. Considering the dangers involved in drug usage and its effect on our society, I urge perpetrators of this illicit trade to be patriotic enough to change their ways and embrace legitimate trade or face the consequences of their actions, as our determination is resolute.
Other notable seizures within the period under review include, four live pangolins intercepted along the waterways of Alapa Creek, Ajilete.
He revealed that the seized endangered species which are the most endangered mammals in the world, were since handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre for safekeeping.
He averred that this effort underscores Nigeria’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws and discouraging trade in endangered species.
Aliyu further disclosed the seizure of not less than 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle.
“This seizure is a vital win for Nigeria’s environment and public safety, considering its effects on environment, and this move reaffirms our commitment to the Basel Convention (1989). Both Section 55(1), (d) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (2023) and the Basel Convention relates to the control of trans boundary hazardous waste movements, to protect developing nations like Nigeria. Used Compressors often carry hazardous oils, refrigerants, and residues that leach toxins into soil and emit Green House Gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide among others that deplete the ozone layer, if not properly disposed. Section 55(1), (d) of NCS Act (2023) authorizes the seizure of prohibited imports that threaten the environment. This aligns our laws with international best practice in environmental protection”, he said.
Continuing, he said: “In line with the commitment of the NCS to foster inter-agency collaboration, the seized 3029 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing 1, 425kg will be handed over today to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution. We enjoin the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to smuggling or illicit trade to the units help desk. All such reports will be handled in strict confidentiality.
“In addition to these laudable achievements, the unit continues to enforce import and export compliance by addressing issues of mis-declaration of cargo and some Demand Notices (DN) were issued. From 10th December 2025 till date, a total of N 36,891,826 only was recovered. Our core mandate is to strengthen the integrity of the supply chain, through a rigorous gap analysis”.
Apparently aware of the support of the media and other stakeholders in the strides made by his command since his took the reins of administration late last year, Aliyu said: “I deeply appreciate your presence and continued partnership in our shared task of securing our borders, economy, and the safety of our people”.
He also expressed gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for the opportunity given to him to serve as the CAC, NCS, FOU, Zone ‘A’.
On what led to the series of successes he has recorded so far, the CAC said: “Upon assumption of duty at the command a few weeks ago, I made a clear commitment that we will confront smuggling syndicates with renewed vigour, professional discipline, and complete respect for the rule of law and human dignity. This approach would be driven by three guiding principles of change management, compliance management and reputational management, guided by inclusivity”.
According to him, we understood from the very beginning that we could not achieve different results employing the old ways. Therefore, we took a careful review of our operations, deployment patterns, and internal processes to make informed decisions. These include strengthening internal supervision, with clear performance indicators for every team member, reorganizing patrols using intelligence-driven deployment rather than routine predictable checkpoints, particularly within the Lagos metropolis.
He averred that NCS remains committed in its efforts to combat smuggling, other forms of illicit trade and trans-border crimes.
Aliyu explained that the achievements recorded testify to what he called “Nigeria’s unwavering dedication to protecting our economy and citizenry”, even as he promised he will continue to enforce government fiscal policy and uphold professionalism in the conduct of our duties.
According to him, we have undertaken to sustain an enforcement tactics to root out economic saboteurs, as we remain committed to facilitating legitimate trade. We remain committed to fulfilling our obligations to the best of our ability. To our dedicated officers, I commend you and urge you to maintain this momentum. I also extend my sincere appreciation to the media for their continued support.
