Customs FOU ‘A’ Restructures Patrol Teams to Boost Trade Facilitation, Intensifies Anti-Smuggling Operations
By Femi Anamelechi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, has intensified efforts to balance trade facilitation with border enforcement by restructuring its patrol operations within the South-West region.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, the Comptroller, FOU ‘A’, Kola Oladeji, disclosed that the unit had adjusted its operational strategy to enhance the business environment while maintaining a firm stance against smuggling.
He reiterated the unit’s commitment to trade facilitation, highlighting initiatives introduced by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, including the Time Release Study (TRS), Advance Ruling, and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme.
“This unit has since keyed into these laudable initiatives of the CGC by collapsing some patrol teams operating within the Lagos metropolis. This is aimed at removing unnecessary trade impediments and facilitating a business-friendly environment”, Oladeji stated.
While intensifying its anti-smuggling operations, Comptroller Oladeji revealed that 82 seizures were recorded through the unit’s “Swift Sting Operations,” which targets economic saboteurs.
Some of the seized items include 3,832 bags (50kg each) of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to seven trailer loads, 27 used vehicles (Tokunbo), 14,820 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 3,643kg of cannabis sativa, 27 bales of used clothing, 95 bags of charcoal.
The Unit Head also noted that Six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
He commended his officers for their dedication, stating, “The successes recorded so far this year were not made on a platter of gold. It took the painstaking efforts of our officers who spent hours on patrol and surveillance of our borders to achieve these seizures.”
In addition to the anti-smuggling operations, the unit also recovered N72.4 million through Demand Notices (DN) issued for improperly declared consignments.
As part of its inter-agency cooperation, the seized 3,643kg of cannabis sativa were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Comptroller Oladeji expressed gratitude to sister agencies and emphasised the importance of continued collaboration in combating smuggling.
