The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted prohibited goods valued at over N273.7 million in Cross River State.
The Customs Area Controller for Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command, Comptroller Giwa Dauda, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the seizure included
nearly 2,000 kegs of foreign refined vegetable oil, used tyres, second-hand clothing and smuggled petrol.
Describing the operation as part of ongoing efforts to protect local industries, preserve jobs and support the Federal Government’s industrialisation agenda, Daudap said Customs operatives intercepted two 20-foot containers loaded with 1,996 kegs of prohibited foreign refined vegetable oil along the Odukpani-Calabar Highway on June 14 during a routine patrol operation.
According to him, the products, concealed in a truck, have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N195.5 million and would have posed a significant threat to local manufacturers had they entered the Nigerian market.
He noted that the vegetable oil industry remains one of the sectors that has attracted substantial investments from Nigerian entrepreneurs, warning that the influx of prohibited imports could undermine government efforts to promote self-sufficiency, discourage investment and threaten thousands of jobs.
“The command remains resolute in enforcing Federal Government trade policies aimed at protecting local industries and encouraging domestic production,” Dauda said.
Beyond the vegetable oil seizure, the Area Controller disclosed that officers also intercepted 1,500 used tyres and 105 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing imported in contravention of existing laws.
He said the combined Duty Paid Value of all the prohibited items seized during the operation amounted to N273.7 million, underscoring the scale of smuggling activities being confronted by the command.
Dauda further revealed that Customs operatives seized 800 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during anti-smuggling operations, bringing the total volume of petrol intercepted by the command in 2026 to 5,760 litres.
The seized fuel was subsequently disposed of in line with approved safety procedures due to its highly combustible nature, he added.
The Customs boss warned smugglers and economic saboteurs to desist from illegal importation activities, stressing that such practices weaken local industries, distort market competition, deprive government of revenue and undermine economic diversification efforts.
The latest seizure comes amid a renewed nationwide crackdown on the illicit importation of vegetable oil, following directives by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to strengthen border enforcement and dismantle smuggling networks threatening domestic agricultural and industrial investments.
