By Ike Uchechukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command, has intercepted 1,996 kegs of vegetable oil and other prohibited goods with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N273.68 million.

Briefing journalists in Calabar on Wednesday, the Area Comptroller, Comptroller Momodu Dauda, said the items were seized during a series of anti-smuggling operations across the command’s area of responsibility, dealing a significant blow to illicit trade activities.

The seizures included foreign refined vegetable oil, imported used tyres, second-hand clothing and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), all intercepted between early June and Wednesday.

According to Dauda, the most significant operation took place on June 14, 2026, when customs patrol officers along the Odukpani-Calabar Highway intercepted a truck carrying two 20-foot containers.

“The driver and his motor boy, sensing imminent arrest, fled the vehicle and have remained at large,” he said.

A subsequent search of the abandoned truck uncovered 1,996 kegs of 25-litre foreign refined vegetable oil with a DPV of N195.5 million.

Customs operatives also intercepted 1,500 imported used tyres valued at N61.39 million and 105 jumbo-sized rolls of second-hand clothing worth N15.63 million.

Earlier on Wednesday, officers seized 800 litres of PMS valued at N1.15 million, bringing the command’s total PMS seizures for 2026 to about 5,760 litres.

Dauda noted that all the recovered items are on the Federal Government’s Import Prohibition List and warned that their circulation poses risks to public health, local industries and the national economy.

“The reason for these prohibitions is clear. They are meant to protect public health, preserve environmental standards, encourage domestic industrial growth and safeguard local manufacturers from unfair competition,” he said.

He stressed that the command would continue to intensify efforts against smuggling and other forms of economic sabotage.

“Individuals and groups engaged in smuggling activities are advised to desist, as the Service will continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations and sustained enforcement measures to curb all forms of economic sabotage,” he warned.

Dauda also urged Nigerians to support customs operations by providing credible and timely information.

“Members of the public are encouraged to support the Service by providing timely and credible information that will assist us in protecting Nigeria’s economy and promoting lawful trade,” he said.

The comptroller attributed the command’s operational successes to the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose reforms, he said, have strengthened enforcement capabilities, intelligence-led operations and professionalism across the Service.

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