Customs Seizes 14,100 Litres of Smuggled Diesel, 204 Bags of Foreign Rice in Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, has intercepted 14,100 litres of smuggled 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 Lagos waterways.
The seizures, which also included a fibre boat fitted with a 40-horsepower outboard engine, have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦83.124 million.
The Acting Comptroller of the Western Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Thomas Jonah, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
Jonah said the seizures were recorded during sustained enforcement operations targeting smuggling and other illicit activities along the country’s maritime borders.
He explained that the first operation took place on Thursday, November 5, when a joint patrol team comprising personnel from Yekeme, Badagry and the Command Information Patrol intercepted 40 cartons of assorted cosmetic products.
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In a separate operation at about 3:45 a.m. on Friday, November 6, the team intercepted 50 kegs of Automotive Gas Oil, each containing 50 litres, totalling 2,500 litres, during a routine patrol along the Akere waterways.
The Acting Comptroller further disclosed that personnel of the Bar Beach Outstation Team, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted an additional 232 kegs of AGO, amounting to 11,600 litres.
The operation also led to the seizure of a fibre boat fitted with a 40HP outboard engine, suspected to have been used in the attempted smuggling operation.
Jonah added that the 204 bags of seized foreign parboiled rice had a Duty Paid Value of ₦19.584 million.
He said the Command would continue to strengthen its operational strategies, intelligence gathering and surveillance to curb smuggling and protect the nation’s economy and local industries.
The Acting Comptroller also reassured stakeholders and communities along the waterways of the Command’s commitment to sustaining enforcement operations and reducing illicit trade across the maritime corridors.
By PRNigeria
