ALAS! AFENI ON FAMILIAR TURF, SHOCKS SMUGGLERS WITH N6.194 BILLION CONTRABAND SEIZURE IN 4 WEEKS
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
His mastery of the nooks and crannies of the various smuggling terrain of the states scattered in the south west has become a major boost for the success of the new Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, zone A , Deputy Comptroller O.O Afeni.
In just four weeks of his assumption of office, the Unit under his watch has secured striking seizures worth more than N6,194,695,947.05. He described the period during his maiden media briefing today as ‘four weeks of rigorous enforcement operations’
The briefing, he noted ‘is important, as the media remain indispensable partners in public enlightenment, accountability and national service. Your work helps citizens understand the significance of customs operations, the dangers of smuggling and the collective responsibility we all share in protecting Nigeria’s economy and security of our people’
Afeni disclosed that the Unit thwarted 195 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and restricted items in the period under consideration.
He said the seizures include the following items:
Imported Rice 3,028 bags of 50kg each, 995 bags of 25kg, 104 bags of 20kg, and 207 bags of 5kg; 5,986 parcels of Cannabis sativa and Indica weighing 3,407.83kg; 173 Cartons of Imported Frozen Poultry Product; 6,949 Cartons of Smuggled Spaghetti; 459 Bales, and 39 Jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing; 1,236 pieces of Used tires; 33 pieces of used rims; 8,025 Litres of PMS; 57 cartons, 37 packs and 6 pieces of Codeine Syrup; 20 Cartons of Couscous; 23,220 pieces of new matchets; 101 bags of Imported Sugar of 50kg each; 8 bags of imported Creamer powdered milk 25kg each; 12 bags of Grain oat products 25kg each; 1×40 Ft Container No. SEGU 5347239 containing 2,760pcs of Office chairs in CKD; 400 grams of Cocaine; 8 Live Pangolins; 100 grams of Methamphetamine; 1,250 12-Calibre Cartridges of Red Star Brand; 250 Cartons of Lotus Sardine (No NAFDAC Number); 21 Foreign Used Vehicles (Tokunbo) and; 11 Means of Conveyance.
These seizures go beyond mere statistics, but represent revenue recovered for the Federation, local industries protected, and lives saved from dangerous and substandard goods. They will not measure their success by how much they seize, but by how much harm they prevent.
According to him, the volume of Cannabis on display is of grave concern when considered alongside the World Drug Report of 2025 issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) where Cannabis remains the most available and widely used drug, while simultaneously accounting for an estimated 42% of drug use disorder cases worldwide.
Increasingly-potent cannabis strains including the variety popularly marketed as Colorado have destroyed otherwise promising futures among young people. The effect goes beyond individual users to include disruption of families, fuelling of social vices, and placing considerable strain on our healthcare system. This interception deals a blow to availability, illegal proceeds of sale, and use of these products with the attendant diverse and adverse effects averted.
The 23,220 pieces of new matchets being smuggled into the country without requisite certificates and permits could easily be deployed towards disrupting peaceful elections in a couple of months. Election violence is rarely an isolated incident but facilitated and aided by smuggling activities like the one thwarted by their operatives.
The Nation’s economic security remain central to the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service. In line with this priority, the Unit has strengthened compliance checks, heightened scrutiny of Declarations, corrected under-valuations, and issued Demand Notices where necessary. Between 30th September 2026 to date, the Unit recovered Six Hundred and Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Three Hundred and Four Naira, Five Kobo (₦683,661,304.05) Only.
Enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted examination of questionable
declarations, teamwork, professionalism, and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders have all been deployed in achieving this feat.
He assured importers, licensed Customs agents, and members of the trading public that the Unit will continue to distinguish between legitimate trade and fraudulent practices. They will facilitate compliant trade, but they will not tolerate attempts to evade duties, falsify declarations, or undermine national security.
He said the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, carries a critical mandate: to suppress smuggling, protect government revenue, enforce Customs laws, and safeguard Nigeria’s economic and security interests across its area of responsibility. Also to ensure that Customs formations across their AOR perform their duties in conformity with laid down laws, guidelines and procedures.
Upon his assumption of office, they have streamlined and coordinated internal processes, prioritized intelligence-driven enforcement, improved surveillance, risk-based examination, and stronger cooperation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders. Our approach is simple: they will act professionally, enforce the law firmly, protect legitimate trade, and ensure that those who seek to undermine the nation’s economy are made to face the consequences of their actions.
He stressed that no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation. The complexity of modern trans-border crime demands coordinated action, timely intelligence sharing, and joint operational planning.
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, has therefore sustained productive collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Army, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and other relevant agencies.
Through these partnerships, seized narcotics and suspects will be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while other prohibited items have been transferred to the appropriate agencies in line with their statutory mandates. He stated that they will will continue to deepen these relationships through intelligence sharing, joint operations, capacity building, and coordinated enforcement. Their collective objective remains clear: to dismantle criminal networks, protect our borders, secure our communities, and defend the national economy
He uses the opportunity to appeal to their stakeholders and members of the public to support the fight against smuggling. Smuggling thrives where it is tolerated, protected, or ignored. Every citizen has a role to play by
reporting suspicious activities, and supporting lawful trade. To economic saboteurs and unpatriotic individuals, “our message is clear: the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, will remain vigilant. They will continue to disrupt their networks, intercept your consignments, and ensure that the full weight of the law is applied where” appropriate.
In conclusion, he sincerely appreciates the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, DSM, Fnipr, PSC (+), and the entire Management of the Nigeria Customs Service, for the confidence reposed in me by appointing me to lead the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’. He deeply grateful for the policy direction, guidance, and support extended to me.
He commends his officers for their courage, professionalism, and commitment. Their sacrifices, often under difficult operational conditions, continue to produce tangible results for the nation.
The successes recorded so far are encouraging, but they are not a reason for complacency. They are a call to greater commitment. Under my watch, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, will remain resolute in its fight against smuggling, committed to revenue protection, and dedicated to professional, transparent, and intelligence-led Customs operations. “Together, we will continue to serve Nigeria with integrity, courage, and dedication.”