Nigerian Customs seizes N3.6bn worth of bulletproof jackets, drugs in Ogun

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A Ikeja, has intercepted contraband goods valued at N3.6 billion, including 150 cartons of bulletproof jackets worth N1.687 billion.
Speaking to journalists in Ikeja on Thursday, Kola Oladeji, Customs Area Controller for the unit, revealed that the seizures were made along the Ijebu Ode-Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State. Each carton contained 10 packs of bulletproof jackets, which were seized in June.
Oladeji emphasized that the importation of military wares like bulletproof jackets by individuals is strictly prohibited under Schedule 4 of the Customs Common External Tariff. He noted that an end-user certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser is mandatory for such imports.
“These seizures were unique because it was a breach of security, no end-user certificate,” Oladeji stated, highlighting the seriousness of the offense.
The Customs Area Controller also disclosed the interception of other illegal items during the same period, including 989 kilograms of cannabis sativa and 5,229 cartons of expired drugs across various locations in the South-Western States.
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In addition to these, the unit seized 343,750 liters of premium motor spirit, 7,150 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 32 units of used vehicles, 120 bags of sugar, and 3,560 cartons of poultry products.
Oladeji reported that four suspects were apprehended in connection with various offenses related to import/export guidelines, concealment, wrong classification, smuggling, and policy directive contraventions.
He emphasized that the cumulative duty paid value of the intercepted goods amounts to N3.6 billion. Furthermore, the unit recovered N62 million in revenue for June 2024 through documentary checks and demand notices issued on consignments that were underpaid.
Oladeji called on Nigerians to provide timely and useful information to aid in the arrest of individuals involved in illegal importation activities involving military wares, illicit drugs, and counterfeit goods. He also urged importers and licensed agents to comply with import and export guidelines to avoid losing their goods.
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