Nigeria Customs Service Cracks Down on Illicit Trade: $15 Million Worth of Contraband Seized

By Lod Onyeji

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made significant strides in combating illicit trade, intercepting contraband worth ₦6.38 billion ($15 million) at Apapa Port, Lagos. Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi attributed the success to the commissioning of a Data Analytics Centre and the installation of a Drive-Through Scanner, enhancing intelligence-driven operations and cargo clearance processes.

Key Seizures:

- Expired pharmaceuticals, including Mixagrip Cold Caplets and Chloroquine injections

- 800 cartons of Codeine concealed in toilet flushing cisterns

- 1,700 cartons of Codeine cough syrup hidden with luxury food flasks

- 347.57kg of Cannabis Sativa (Colorado) concealed in a Toyota Sienna

- Expired food items, including tomato paste and energy drinks

Global Best Practices:

Similar approaches have yielded results in advanced countries:

- The US Customs and Border Protection's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system has reduced cargo clearance times by 30%

- Singapore's Integrated Border Management system has achieved a 95% reduction in customs clearance times

- The UK's HM Revenue & Customs' data analytics platform has increased detection of illicit goods by 20%.

Enforcement Strategy:

The NCS has intensified the use of Non-Intrusive Inspection systems (scanning) and risk management to detect anomalies and identify suspicious consignments. In 2023, Apapa Port processed:

- 3,236 consignments through the Orange channel (scanning)

- 21,373 consignments through physical examination (Red channel)

Impact:

The seizures demonstrate the NCS's commitment to protecting public health and safety, combating illicit trade, and facilitating legitimate commerce. The agency encourages traders to comply with regulations and utilize the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program for faster clearance.

Adeniyi emphasized that Apapa Port is no longer a hub for smugglers, and the NCS will continue to intercept, expose, and prosecute those undermining the trade system. The agency's strategic objective is to increase scanning across major entry points, enhancing enforcement accuracy and reducing port congestion.