DAYS AFTER CG’s DECLARATION OF WAR ON VEGETABLE OIL SMUGGLING; COMPT BALOGUN SETS THE PACE, ANNOUNCES A N403.4 MILLION SEIZURE OF SAME PRODUCT IN ZONE ‘C’ OWERRI
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, announced a significant enforcement success following the interception of a large consignment of foreign-smuggled vegetable oil. The seizure is the result of strategic intelligence coordination and coordinated operational activity by officers of the Unit.
Seized items are as follows
3,310 jerrycans (kegs) of 25-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil
10 jerrycans (kegs) of 10-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil
20 cartons of 5-litre sunflower vegetable oil
20 cartons of 3-litre sunflower vegetable oil
According to him, their operatives intercepted two (2) trucks carrying the consignment at about 2200hrs of 9th May along the 9th miles in Enugu and another one along Onisha Agbor highway on the 7th of June 2026 following credible intelligence. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items is Four hundred and three million, four hundred and ninety-one thousand naira only (N403,491,000.00).
This seizure represents a major blow to economic saboteurs whose illegal importation of foreign vegetable oil undermines local industry, technology transfer, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings. He emphasized that the operation demonstrates the Service’s firm commitment to enforcing the NCS Act 2022 (as amended) and the Federal Government’s fiscal and protective measures that prohibit the importation of foreign vegetable oil.
He urged those engaged in smuggling and related criminal networks to cease their activities and warned that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies to protect public health, national security, and the domestic economy.
The confiscated jerrycans and cartons remain in custody as investigations continue and appropriate legal processes commence.
