Customs Seizes 21,000 Bags of Smuggled Rice in 9 Months

(NCS. Photo by Vanguard News)

The departing Customs Area Controller for the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, says his command's fight against smuggling has relied on targeted intelligence rather than random operations.

He made the remarks while receiving members of the Network of Nigerian Maritime Journalists at the unit's Lagos office.

Aliyu disclosed that the command recovered more than N2 billion for the Federation Account over the last nine months and seized more than 21,000 bags of smuggled rice roughly 35 truckloads alongside illegal drugs and banned items.

He credited the success to his officers' commitment and backing from the Customs hierarchy.

The outgoing controller stressed the importance of media partnership in tackling economic crime, calling journalists strategic allies in a fight no single agency can win alone.

As a former journalist himself, he expressed pride in standing alongside the press.

Aliyu said the unit's increasingly intelligence-driven approach has proven effective, moving away from haphazard enforcement toward deliberate, targeted operations.

He emphasised that while the service was pushing hard to suppress smuggling, sustained collaboration with partners particularly the media remained crucial for lasting results.

The visiting journalists' leader, Dele Aderibigbe, said the group came not to cover an event but to celebrate Aliyu as a friend and professional partner deserving recognition.

He described journalists as society's watchdogs, noting their role sometimes makes stakeholders uncomfortable but their commitment remains the truth.

Another group official, Sesan Onileimo, praised Aliyu as a man of his word, saying his willingness to keep promises despite challenges showed integrity and had strengthened ties with maritime journalists.