Customs FOU Zone ‘A’ hands over N1.3b cannabis indica to NDLEA

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, has handed over 3,340 parcels of cannabis indica to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The weight of the illicit drug was 1,540kg.

Also handed over to the NDLEA was 6.4kg of Cocaine and Methamphetamine.

The cannabis indica, with a duty paid value of N1,336,000,000, was among other goods that were seized by the Unit within eight weeks.

Other goods seized included 8,794 bags of rice (50kg each equivalent to 15 trailer loads), used Tokunbo vehicles (-22 units), 1,863 pieces of used refrigerator compressors, 328 bales of used clothing, 1188 kegs of vegetable oil (25 litres each), 31, 705 litres of PMS, 485 pieces used tyres, 69 cartons of foreign Bonita spaghetti, 24 bags 50kg each of foreign sugar and Five Cartons of ST Louis and 531 cartons of foreign poultry products.

The duty paid value of the total items seized was Five billion, Five Hundred and Four Million, Thirty-Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Naira only (₦5,504,039,720.00).

Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, Comptroller of the Unit, performed the handing over of the illicit drug to NDLEA while showcasing the items seized at the Customs Training College in Ikeja on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

The Comptroller noted that the Unit leveraged on advanced surveillance, intelligence sharing frameworks, and inter-agency collaboration thwarted 473 smuggling attempts within eight weeks (8) of our operations resulting in seizures of the items.

He said the seizure of the illicit drug was made possible with the launch of an operation codename “Operation Hawk” aimed at curbing illicit goods trafficking and safeguarding of revenue.

According to him, “In the same vein, the Unit reinforced its anti-smuggling strategies to continuously cut supply chain networks in drug trafficking with the launch of an operation code named “OPERATION HAWK” This is aimed at curbing illicit goods trafficking, safeguarding revenue and protecting our society and environment from incidences of crime, criminalities and pervasive societal vices that threaten national stability.

“Against this backdrop, the unit successfully took out 3,340 parcels of synthetic strain of cannabis indica, ‘Ghanaian loud’, weighing 1540kg from the society. This effort is an affirmation of our commitment in the fight against drugs smuggling syndicates in the Zone. Our analysis of the trend in recent times, indicate that the traffickers are devising different methods to perpetuate illicit trade, therefore, there is the need for critical security stakeholders to upscale their intelligence sharing mechanism to cut the supply chain completely. In addition to leveraging modern technologies for intelligence gathering, I have also constituted and effectively coordinated a specialised team responsible for integrating Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) operations, which is already yielding positive and measurable results.

“In a separate operation, officers and men of the Gbaji outpost acting on credible intelligence at about 0645hrs of Thursday 30th April 2026, intercepted a green coloured Toyota Highlander driven by one Mr. Oni Iredia Martins, a 71 year old male Nigerian citizen suspected to convey a Narcotics substance. Further examination of the vehicle revealed 6 parcels of cocaine substance, with 2 parcels of the powdered substance Cocaine weighing 2.3kg, and 4 parcels of the Methamphetamine weighing 4.1kg of crack cocaine, all totalling 6.4kg of the illicit substance. The consignment was intercepted at Elijah Bus stop along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, and has a street value of approximately N2.35b. The numerous seizures occurred across borders in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states. Several defendants were arrested in connection with these operations.”

He said the handing of the drugs to the NDLEA would enable the agency to further investigation and prosecution in courts of competent jurisdictions. “These seizures underscore the operational prowess and strategic effectiveness of our operatives. They also reinforce our unwavering dedication to disrupt smuggling networks and confront economic saboteurs whose actions threaten national security and undermine the fiscal policies of the federal government headlong.”

The Comptroller added that his vigilant officers on duty seized four cylinders of a chemical confirmed to be high grade Mercury, which is illegally used in small scale mining of GOLD. “The item is a dual-purpose chemical that poses significant environmental hazards and is controlled by the MINAMATA Convention on Mercury. The items were concealed in the false bottom segment in the trunk of a Toyota Avensis at the Gbaji Outpost, along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor. The arrest was effected together with a male suspect who has been granted Administrative bail, as investigation reached an advanced stage. The items and the suspect would be handed over to NESREA in furtherance of our agency function as directed by headquarters,” said Aliyu.

According to him, “This impressive figure – ₦5,504,039,720.00 – is a clear testimony to the scale, intensity, and strategic effectiveness of our operations across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo States. It underscores the Unit’s unwavering commitment to the recovery of unpaid duties, interception of under-declared consignments, and strict enforcement of the Federal Government’s fiscal policies. The figure further demonstrates the significant contribution of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ to national revenue mobilization efforts, while simultaneously dealing a heavy blow to economic saboteurs and smugglers who attempt to undermine the nation’s economic interests. This achievement reinforces our resolve to maintain a high level of operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility in line with the vision of the Comptroller- General of Customs.

Aside enforcement operations, the Unit also plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with import and export regulations. Strengthening the integrity of the declarations on the trade value chain remains a priority. In line with the ONE STOP initiative of the Service, the unit continues to scrutinize questionable declarations, interdict unpaid duty and issue Demand Notices (DN) in concert with the Post Clearance Audit, where necessary. Consequently, between 3rd February and 28th April 2026, a total of Ninety-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira and Fifty-Five Kobo (N97,703,596.55) only was recovered.”

He disclosed that the Unit is aggressively advancing the digitization of its operations in alignment with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for a modern, technology- driven Nigeria Customs Service.

Aliyu said “We are integrating cutting-edge technologies, particularly geospatial intelligence, to curb unwholesome practices including smuggling, under-declaration, duty evasion, and illicit trafficking. This includes the deployment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery, drone surveillance, real-time vehicle tracking, and predictive analytics to map high-risk border corridors, monitor smuggling hotspots in real time across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states, and enable proactive, intelligence-led operations.

“Geospatial tools allow us to overlay seizure data, movement patterns of contraband such as rice, used vehicles, and narcotics, and intelligence reports on digital maps. This facilitates better resource allocation, rapid response, and disruption of supply chains before they reach our highways. The recent commissioning of our new state-of-the-art Command Headquarters at Iperu in Ogun State provides the perfect infrastructure backbone for this modernization drive. The facility will host an advanced Command and Control Centre equipped for geospatial monitoring, data analytics, and seamless inter-agency collaboration with NDLEA, Police, and other security and intelligence organisations.

“This technological transformation aligns fully with the CGC’s vision of modernizing the NCS to meet global standards, enhance operational efficiency, improve revenue collection, and deliver faster trade facilitation while maintaining robust border security. By embracing these tools, we are not only strengthening enforcement but also creating a more transparent, accountable, and responsive Customs administration that supports legitimate trade in line with the WCO SAFE FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS.

“While we maintain vigilance against smuggling, fraud and criminalities, 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. This is representative of the WCO SAFE FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS. This is evident as we no longer hear or receive complains of unnecessary hindrance of cargo movements by our stakeholders who are doing legitimate businesses along the major highways in the Zone.”

He informed that the Unit would soon commence a phased movement to its newly commissioned ultra-modern Command Headquarters at Iperu in Ogun State. “The Iperu Headquarters is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure. This strategic relocation is not merely a change of physical address but a transformative step in the CGC’s vision for a fully modernized and efficient Nigeria Customs Service. The phased approach will ensure minimal disruption to our operations while allowing officers and men to gradually settle into the new facility. This move will significantly boost morale, enhance inter-agency collaboration, strengthen real-time monitoring of smuggling routes across the South-West, and position the Unit to deliver even greater results in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security. We are confident that the relocation will mark a new era of operational excellence for the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’.”