The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja, Lagos, has seized foreign goods and narcotics worth N3.32 billion. The interceptions included 12 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice and 1,431 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis, also known as “Ghanaian Loud,” in Lagos and surrounding areas.

Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, speaking at his first media briefing, said the success followed a revamp of patrols and an intelligence-driven enforcement strategy. The unit carried out 144 successful interceptions by focusing on targeted operations instead of routine checkpoints, boosting oversight and efficiency across the Lagos metropolis.

Apart from rice and cannabis, officers confiscated imported sugar, used vehicles, vegetable oil, fuel, second-hand clothing, and roofing materials. Aliyu explained that synthetic cannabis often fuels criminal activity, including banditry and terrorism, making the bust a significant setback for criminal networks. The seized drugs will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution.

The customs unit also conducted environmental and wildlife interventions, rescuing four live pangolins and confiscating 581 used refrigerator compressors that pose environmental hazards. Aliyu noted that all operations complied with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and international environmental regulations. The agency mourned the loss of an officer in the line of duty during these operations, highlighting the risks involved in anti-smuggling enforcement.