The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 195 smuggling attempts across the South-West. The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, seized prohibited and restricted goods valued at ₦6.19 billion in four weeks. The Acting Comptroller, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed the figures at his maiden press briefing on Tuesday.
Customs seizures are a measure of smuggling pressure. The South-West corridor includes Lagos ports, land borders and highways. Smugglers use routes through Ogun, Oyo and Osun to move goods. The unit has focused on rice, vehicles and drugs. In 2025, the zone recorded similar seizures. The current haul is among the largest in recent months.
The seizures included 5,986 parcels of cannabis weighing 3,407.83 kilogrammes. That is about 3.4 tonnes. The unit also seized 23,220 machetes. It recovered 400 grammes of cocaine and 100 grammes of methamphetamine. Other items included 3,028 bags of 50kg rice, 995 bags of 25kg rice and 207 bags of 5kg rice. The unit seized 21 foreign-used vehicles. It recovered 1,250 cartridges. It also seized 173 cartons of frozen poultry, 6,949 cartons of spaghetti, 459 bales of second-hand clothing, 1,236 used tyres and 8,025 litres of Premium Motor Spirit. It recovered eight live pangolins and 250 cartons of sardines without NAFDAC registration numbers. It seized 11 means of conveyance.
Afeni said the drugs were handed over to the NDLEA for investigation and prosecution. Other items were transferred to relevant agencies. He expressed concern about the volume of cannabis and the machetes. He linked the machetes to potential electoral violence. He said smuggling networks could move dangerous items capable of disrupting elections. The unit recovered ₦683.66 million in revenue through compliance checks and undervaluation detection.
Winners: Customs, which demonstrated enforcement. The NDLEA, which gained drug consignments. The government, which gained revenue. The public, if dangerous goods are removed. Losers: Smugglers, who lost goods. Their networks, which face disruption. Consumers of smuggled rice and poultry, who face higher prices. The economy, if smuggling continues.
Bottom Line: ₦6.19 billion in seizures. 3.4 tonnes of cannabis. 23,220 machetes. The unit is working. The machetes are a warning. The election is approaching. Customs must keep watching.