The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Area Command, has intercepted 14,100 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 204 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 40 cartons of assorted cosmetic products in a series of anti-smuggling operations along waterways within its area of responsibility.
The Acting Area Controller of the unit, Thomas Jonah, who displayed the seized items to journalists yesterday, said the goods, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N83.12 million, were intercepted during intelligence-driven enforcement operations and routine patrols.
Jonah said the operations spanned three days. He explained that on 5 November 2026, a joint patrol team from Yekeme, Badagry and the Command Information Patrol recovered the 40 cartons of cosmetics.
He added that at about 3:45 a.m. on November 6, the same joint team intercepted 50 kegs of AGO, amounting to 2,500 litres, during a routine patrol along the Akere waterways.
According to him, at about 1:00 a.m. on 7 November, the Command’s Information and Barbeach Outstation Team, acting on intelligence, moved to the Takwabay waterways, where it seized 232 kegs of AGO, amounting to 11,600 litres.
He said officers also recovered a fibre boat fitted with a 40-horsepower outboard engine, believed to have been used in the attempted smuggling.
Separately, the command seized 204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, with a DPV of N19.6 million, during its enforcement activities.
Jonah said that in each case, the suspected smugglers abandoned the goods and fled on sighting the approaching officers, escaping arrest. The seized items and associated equipment were subsequently evacuated to the command.
The Area Controller said that, because of its highly combustible nature, the seized AGO had been constructively warehoused for safety and would be auctioned to the public in line with extant laws. He added that the other items were being processed in accordance with established Customs procedures.
Jonah commended the officers involved for their vigilance, professionalism and prompt response to intelligence.
He said the interceptions reflected the command’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, waterway surveillance and the protection of national economic interests.
He assured communities along the waterways that the command, in line with the policy direction of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi, would continue to strengthen its strategies, intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies.
He called on members of the public to provide timely information to help identify and stop illicit activities, saying, ‘There will be no hiding place for smugglers and economic saboteurs within our area of responsibility’.
