The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘D’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded significant anti-smuggling gains between 21 May and 16 July 2025, seizing contraband items with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦78,111,442.50.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Zone’s headquarters in Bauchi on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Comptroller Abubakar Umar said the seizures included petroleum products, pharmaceutical substances, and military gear, some of which pose direct threats to national security and public health.
Among the items intercepted were 13,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 725 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 20,600 sachets of Tramadol Hydrochloride, 1,000 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 129 bags of unregistered monosodium glutamate, and several cartons of unregistered powdered and condensed milk.
Also confiscated were 20 bags of unregistered citric acid powder, 20 rolls of paramilitary uniform materials, one roll of military camouflage material, five bags of unregistered non-dairy creamer, and five cartons of Neo-skin Vista body cream.
Comptroller Umar described the seizures of military and paramilitary uniform materials as particularly significant given the persistent insecurity and activities of non-state actors in the region.
“These underscore our unwavering commitment to combating smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s economy,” Umar stated. “Our operations will be intensified in the coming weeks to curb these illicit activities further.”
In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, Comptroller Umar also confirmed the handover of 711.9kg of pangolin scales to the Customs Special Wildlife Unit at the CIU Headquarters, 32,010 sachets of Tramadol Hydrochloride to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and 45 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in line with standard procedure.
He attributed the operations’ success to intelligence-driven enforcement, strategic inter-agency collaboration, and the dedication of Customs officers in the zone.
Comptroller Umar announced the recent allocation of nine operational vehicles to the Unit by the Customs Headquarters to boost enforcement capabilities. He expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for his continued leadership and support.
He urged traders in the zone to remain law-abiding, warning that the Unit would spare no effort in apprehending and prosecuting those engaged in illegal trade.
The briefing concluded with an appreciation for media practitioners’ role in informing the public and promoting transparency in the unit and Service’s activities.
