The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, reported that during the previous four weeks, it had intercepted 82 items of contraband, including secondhand cars known as Tokunbo, valued at N1.7 billion. Speaking to reporters at the command in Ikeja on Wednesday, Kola Oladeji, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, revealed this. Six individuals were detained in relation to the seizures of the contraband from neighboring nations, he said, adding that the contrabands were apprehended within the southwestern states of Nigeria, including the Oyo and Ogun border axis.

According to Oladeji, the seized contrabands include 3,832 bags of foreign rice, equivalent to seven trailers.

“Others include 27 units of used vehicles, also known as tokunbo vehicles; 494 kegs of premium motor spirit, equivalent to 14,820 litres; 27 bales of used clothing; 95 bags of charcoal; and 3,643 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, among others, which have a cumulative duty paid value of N1.7bn,” Oladeji said.

The CAC pointed out that the unit recovered a total sum of N72.4m as revenue through the issuance of demand notices “as a result of the irregular declaration of consignments”.

He vowed that the unit will continue to enforce the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as it relates to import and export goods to prevent revenue losses.

"To accomplish these seizures, our officers had to put in many hours of patrol and border surveillance. We will not compromise on our oars, I repeat. Our determination to curb illicit cross-border trade and other criminal activity is unwavering," he declared. He stated that in addition to carrying out the mandated duty of ensuring compliance in accordance with government fiscal policy, the unit will keep educating the public about the social and economic ramifications of smuggling. He stated that the 3,643 kg of cannabis sativa that were found will be turned over to the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency for additional examination in accordance with the NCS's directives to foster interagency collaboration and synergy.