Customs Zone ‘C’ Intercepts 3,310 Jerrycans, Cartons of Smuggled Vegetable Oil Worth N403.4million
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.
A breakdown of the seized items included; 3,310 jerrycans of 25-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil; 10 jerrycans of 10-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil; 20 cartons of 5-litre sunflower vegetable oil; and 20 cartons of 3-litre sunflower vegetable oil.
According to the Customs Area Controller, FOU Zone C, Comptroller Bishir Balogun, operatives of the intercepted two 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 placed at 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.
“Let me 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.
“I urge 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” Compt Balogun said in a statement on Monday.
