Operatives of the  Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone “A’, Ikeja,  have seized prohibited goods worth over N1.7billion and arrested nine suspects within the last one month.

Addressing reporters in Lagos yesterday, the Comptroller General of the Service, Adewale Adeniyi, said nine suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

Adeniyi, who was represented by the ACG Hussein Ejibunu, disclosed that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all intercepted items stands at an impressive N1,784,432,000.

Some of the seized items include 3,500 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 304kg of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp), 7,900 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in 316 jerry cans of 25 litres each and 54 bags and 20 bales of used clothing.

Other items include 41 sacks and bags of used footwear, 14 units of used (“Tokunbo”) vehicles, 148 pieces of used tyres and 42 used gas cylinders.

The CGC also disclosed that 31 units of air conditioning systems, 95 cartons of frozen poultry products, 1X40FT container with container number TRHU 83907321 fully loaded with used tyres, 1X20FT with container number ONEU241369 containing medicaments.

Others are 2X40FT with containers numbers MSKU 4796036, MAEU 9205708, and one truck with container body conveying used fridges, foreign supermarket items and used clothes. 

All the containers, Adeniyi said, “were wrongly declared to evade duties” by the smugglers.

Adeniyi said in the past four weeks “from June 3rd to July 18th, 2025, the Unit has sustained a high operational tempo across the southwestern states. Our intelligence-led operations have enabled us to proactively intercept smuggled goods, disrupt illicit supply chains, and strengthen border enforcement.

“During this period, a total of 102 enforcement interventions were recorded, leading to the interception of a wide range of prohibited and smuggled goods.

“While we maintain vigilance against smuggling and fraud, the FOU remains a strong partner in trade facilitation.

“We continue to support legitimate trade through intelligence-driven operations that strike a balance between security enforcement and economic growth ensuring that lawful traders are not unduly hindered in the process.”

Adeniyi also commended the officers and men of the Unit for being “deeply committed to executing their mandate with the utmost professionalism and in strict adherence to extant regulations.”