FOU ‘A’ Customs: Comptroller Shuaibu Showcases Bumper Harvest Seizures worth N1.285Bn in 2 Weeks
… Impounded Bulletproof Vests, Rice, Cannabis Sativa, PMS, Rice, Clothing, others, make List
Comptroller MS Shuaibu, Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja
It was yet another bumper harvest of seizures for the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) when various offensive contraband items worth over N1.285billion from the unit’s reinvigoured Anti-Smuggling campaign were recently showcased as seizures.
Comptroller MS Shuaibu addressing media during the briefing exercise
Similarly, the unit revealed that an improved revenue collection support feat of over N48million was generated through the issuance of Debit Note (DN) on consignments that fell short of trade laws in the zone within the same two weeks under review.
Notable among the list of seizures include Bullet Proof Vest, Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol, Rice, Used Clothing, tyres, variety models of Vehicles etc.
Comptroller Shuaibu displaying the seized Bulletproof Vests
FOU Zone ‘A’ is a foremost enforcement arm of the service that police the nation’s entire South Western region as an oversight function against entry of any form of unwholesome, offensive and uncustomed goods.
Armed with the fact that, the zone attracted over 60percent of the nation’s trade volume which naturally breeds all forms of associated vices, the unit is saddled with a full mouthed oversight enforcement responsibility to curb activities of recalcitrant smugglers, duty evaders and economic saboteurs across the zone.
Over the years, the FOU ‘A’ had lived up to its enforcement billings in different forms under various leadership.
However, the present leadership of Comptroller MS Shuaibu, a well-known name in the enforcement game who interestingly had over the decades coincidentally had his fair share of enforcement exposure, gaining expertise in various capacities within the zone, is described as ‘beauty’ in the pack of leadership.
His leadership handling of the unit is duly quipped with high wired intelligence profiling and robust sister agencies partnership and stakeholders relation which has in just 40 days, emphatically produced massive achievements.
Showcasing the seized bags of rice stacked at Ikeja Government warehouse
Comptroller MS Shuaibu, the new leadership helmsman at the unit, one of Customs’ vibrant Anti-Smuggling Czar, once again briefed the media yesterday Tuesday June 3, 2025, for the second time in 40 days of his assumption of office on April 23, and barely two weeks after his maiden briefing, on the humongous seizures feat recorded by the unit under his watch.
Shuaibu pertinently stated that his led unit’s renewed vigor to fight smuggling and criminalities through intelligence-driven operations had persistently paid off, as the resilience and dedication of his operatives has inflicted substantial losses on some economic saboteurs who are bent on bringing the country to its knees through their nefarious activities.
Handing over the seized Cannabis Sativa to NDLEA
At the press briefing, Comptroller MS Shuaibu disclosed that a total of Forty- Six (46) interceptions were recorded during the two (2) weeks of enforcement operations being showcased and they include: Rice 2051X50kg each foreign parboiled rice equivalent to three (4) trailer loads; Eleven (11) used vehicles, popularly known as tokumbo vehicles; 1665kg of Cannabis Sativa; 4000 litres of premium motor spirit. (PMS); One white and Black J5 commercial Bus loaded with expired goods; and One Volvo Truck containing 180 sacks of new towel.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for the seizures were put at One Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Six Hundred Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty-Three Naira (N1,285, 600,383.00) only.
In addition, a total of Seven (7) suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures.
According to the Area Controller, the seizures came on the heels of earlier successes recorded in the unit’s anti-smuggling activities just three (3) weeks after he resume the leadership of the unit on the 23rd of April 2025, with a record seizures of over Seven (7) trailer-load of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, drugs and narcotics among others with a DPV of over 1.5 billion naira.
“The Nigeria Customs Service as a lead agency in border security and facilitators of trade, we are not unaware of the need to balance both responsibilities through risk management tools at our disposal. We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our operations will spare no efforts in devising different methods to counter us.
“We would like to assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent to casting aspirations on our officers who have always paid ultimate price for the service to their country.
“As criminals get more desperate and daring, we at the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense against any antics devised by these non-state actors. The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to design and implement sustainable programs that will grow our economy, increase revenue for the government, and encourage legitimate trade”, the top-notch enforcement officer said.
Meanwhile, the seized 1665kg of Indian hemp was during the press briefing exercise handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
On the revenue collection support efforts for the zone, Comptroller Shuaibu said the unit continued to harness all revenue components under the unit to recover loss revenue from the evaders.
He revealed that within the two (2) weeks operations under review, the unit recovered a total of Forty-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Forty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Naira, Eight klKobo (N48,340,720.08) only, through issuance of demand notices (DN) from the improper declaration of consignments.
Some seized means of conveyance
The highly experienced Comptroller of Customs, unlike others, was said to have maintained status quo on personnel he met on ground, demonstrating huge administrative confidence and competence to wittingly tailor them for positive operational advancement for the unit. A highly unique attribute.
In the breakdown of how the seizures were made, Comptroller Shuaibu explained that, on the 23rd and 24th of May 2025, at about 0300hrs and 0230hrs, the unit’s patrol teams within Lagos metropolis acted on intelligence intercepted and seized 2X40FT containers with containers numbers (MSCU 5295718 and MRSU 5856090) respectively along Ijora-Olopa, and mile 2 axis. He stated that examination reports from the containers revealed the following contents: Seven (7) Mitsubishi Canters, Five(5) Toyota Hiace Buses, and Three (3) Mini Shuttle Buses all cut up with their parts complete with clear intention of evade Customs duties.
Other items include used bicycles, 312, Bales of printed wax, 23 Bales of used clothing, 42 used gas cylinders, and 30 used flat screens televisions, 65 table top cookers, and 31 unit of used split air conditioning and among others. The importation of these items contravenes schedule 4 of the common external tariff.
Again, on the 19th of May 2025 at about 0300hrs hours another patrol team intercepted a Volvo truck and investigation revealed to contains 1263 pieces of used tyres and other goods. One suspect was also arrested.
In the same manner, 19th of May 2025 at about 2300hrs, saw officers on a routine patrol along Shagamu/Ijebu-Ode express way in Ogun State, intercepted one truck with registration number T24623LA suspected to be conveying uncustoms goods including Bullet Proof vests. Also, an investigation report revealed the content to include some packages of Tramadol.
Similarly, on the 26th of May 2025, at about 0600hrs, through intelligence-driven operations, our men on the Ijebu-Ode patrol team arrested one empty Mercedes Benz truck. Thorough rummaging of the truck and careful observation by our officers which led to uncover concealment of Cannabis Sativa (India Hemp) in the compartments of the truck. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Shuaibu further stated that the unit’s border patrol teams across the six (6) states of the Southwest have intensified surveillance of the nation’s borders against unscrupulous elements among Nigerians, resulting in several seizures of rice, Cannabis Sativa, used cars and other goods in a flash points of Imeko, Ilaro, Owode, Idiroko , Ilara, Ihumbo, Abeokuta, Badagry, Agbara, Gbaji, shaki and Iseyin in Oyo state.
Seizures of some assorted vehicles
On some of his measures put in place to motivate and boost morale of officers of the unit, Comptroller Shuaibu said upon assumption of office, he worked on some of the institutional activities that have been relegated to the background. “We understand that our monthly parades, weekly sporting activities, and conducive working atmosphere were the major concerns. As of today, we have resuscitated the monthly parades and weekly sporting activities, which I intend to invite you people, our media friends, to join us on one of these days, he said.
The amiable customs enforcement leader however commended officers if the command for their unwavering dedication, steadfastness, gallantry, and integrity which led to the stated achievements.
Appreciation was as well extended to stakeholders and partners, especially the media, for their modest reportage.
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