Customs Officer Dies in Service as FOU Zone A Intercepts N3.3bn Worth of Contraband
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A has lost one of its officers in active service, even as the command announced the seizure of contraband goods valued at N3.3 billion within recent weeks.
Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, who disclosed this during his maiden press briefing on Tuesday in Ikeja, Lagos, said the officer died on the morning of February 3, 2026, while serving the nation.
“This morning, the Command lost one of its promising officers, who fell to the cold hands of death in the Service of our Fatherland. This loss has already been communicated to the Service high Command,” Aliyu said, without providing further details about the circumstances of the officer’s death.
The Comptroller revealed that the unit intercepted 144 smuggling attempts involving various contraband items with a duty paid value of N3,319,893,255.
Major seizures include 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each (equivalent to 12 trailer loads), 3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil, 20,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 915 bales of used clothing, and 21 units of assorted second-hand vehicles.
In a significant anti-narcotics operation, the unit intercepted 3,029 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica, popularly known as “Ghanaian loud,” weighing 1,431kg.
The seized drugs were subsequently handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Aliyu linked drug trafficking to rising insecurity in the country, saying it fuels banditry, terrorism and other societal vices by providing chemical catalysts like methamphetamine that embolden perpetrators.
Other notable seizures include four live pangolins intercepted along Alapa Creek waterways in Ajilete, which were handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre, and 581 used refrigerator compressors concealed in a vehicle.
The Comptroller said the seizure of the compressors aligns Nigeria’s commitment to the Basel Convention on hazardous waste, as used compressors contain toxic oils and refrigerants that damage the environment and emit greenhouse gases.
Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures.
Aliyu, who assumed duty a few weeks ago, said his administration would be driven by three guiding principles: Change Management, Compliance Management, and Reputational Management.
He emphasized that operations would be intelligence-driven rather than relying on routine predictable checkpoints.
The unit also recovered N36,891,826 from demand notices issued for cargo misdeclaration between December 10, 2025, and February 3, 2026.
The Comptroller urged members of the public to report suspicious activities related to smuggling or illicit trade to the unit’s help desk, assuring that all reports would be handled confidentially.
