, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, and smugglers at the Ijoun border){kind=link}
A clash between operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, and smugglers at the Ijoun border in Ogun State led to the seizure of 445 bags of illegally imported 50kg rice.
Speaking in Lagos, the unit’s Area Controller, Kola Oladeji, attributed the successful operation to intelligence reports and the cooperation of local leaders and residents in Ilara, Ijoun, Tobolo, and Ilaro.
Oladeji revealed that the smugglers had concealed the rice in the bush, intending to transport it at night.
However, Customs officers moved in swiftly, securing the contraband and transferring it to the Federal Government warehouse in Ikeja.
Although the enforcement team managed to recover the goods, the smugglers escaped, likely after being alerted by informants about the officers’ approach, abandoning their vehicles in the process.
Condemning the continued activities of smugglers, Oladeji warned that enforcement efforts would be intensified under Operation Swift Sting, a crackdown aimed at disrupting illegal trade.
He reaffirmed that the unit, under the directive of Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi, remains committed to revenue collection, anti-smuggling operations, and facilitating legitimate commerce.
“We wouldn’t have held this press briefing, but many of you questioned our presence in the area over the past five days,” Oladeji stated.
“We acted on intelligence that smugglers were planning to bring in prohibited goods.”
He assured border communities that Customs prioritizes their well-being, emphasizing that officers avoid unnecessary confrontations.
“We always follow our rules of engagement because these are fellow Nigerians. We do not aim to harm anyone, which is why we sometimes allow certain individuals to go,” he concluded.