By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

The Nigeria Customs Service, Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command has intercepted 1,996 gallons of vegetable oil as well as other prohibited goods valued at N273,676,021.

Briefing journalists in Calabar, Wednesday, the Area Comptroller of the Command, Comptroller Momodu Dauda, said the items were intercepted in a series of anti-smuggling operations across the command’s area of responsibility, dealing a significant blow to illicit traders undermining Nigeria’s domestic economy.

The seizures, which comprised foreign refined vegetable oil, used tyres, second-hand clothing and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), were made between earlier this month and Wednesday, Dauda revealed.

According to him, the most significant bust occurred on Sunday, June 14, 2026, when patrol officers along the Odukpani/Calabar Highway flagged down a truck hauling two 20-foot containers.

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

“A subsequent examination of the abandoned truck revealed 1,996 kegs of 25-litre foreign refined vegetable oil with a Duty Paid Value of N195,499,248.

“Operatives also separately intercepted 1,500 imported used tyres and 105 jumbo-sized rolls of second-hand clothing, with DPVs of N61,392,713 and N15,632,060 respectively.

“Earlier on Wednesday, 800 litres of PMS valued at N1,152,000 were seized, pushing the command’s cumulative PMS interceptions for 2026 to approximately 5,760 litres,”

“All recovered items feature on the Federal Government’s Import Prohibition List.

Dauda warned that their circulation in the Nigerian market poses grave dangers to public health, local industry and the broader economy.

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

Dauda stressed the urgency of halting the activities of economic saboteurs, noting that the command would spare no effort in pursuing those behind the trade.

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

Experts have long identified smuggling as a critical drain on Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, depriving local producers of fair market conditions while starving the government of legitimate revenue.

Dauda urged Nigerians to act as partners in protecting the economy by providing timely and credible information that can help them protect Nigeria’s economy.

“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,” Dauda said.

He credited the command’s operational tempo to the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose reform-driven administration continues to strengthen the service enforcement capabilities, intelligence-led operations and professionalism across all commands.