Key Highlights

• Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 3,310 jerry cans of smuggled vegetable oil.
• The seizure was made by the Federal Operations Unit, Zone C, Owerri.
• Seized items include "Super Delicious" and "Sunflower" brands of vegetable oil.
• The operation aims to curb smuggling that undermines local manufacturing and job creation.
• Seized products are in NCS custody pending legal action.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a significant anti-smuggling operation that resulted in the interception of 3,310 jerry cans of smuggled foreign vegetable oil. The seizure was carried out by the Federal Operations Unit, Zone C, Owerri.

Mr. Bishir Balogun, the Comptroller of the Unit, stated that the operation was a result of strategic intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement efforts by the unit's officers. The intercepted items include 3,310 jerry cans of 25-litre "Super Delicious" vegetable oil, 10 jerry cans of 10-litre "Super Delicious" vegetable oil, 20 cartons of five-litre sunflower vegetable oil, and 20 cartons of three-litre sunflower vegetable oil.

Balogun emphasized that this seizure represents a major setback for smugglers whose activities negatively impact local manufacturing, technology transfer, employment generation, and foreign exchange earnings. He affirmed the NCS's commitment to enforcing the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2022, and the Federal Government's policies against the importation of foreign vegetable oil.

The Comptroller issued a stern warning to individuals involved in smuggling and other illicit trade activities, assuring that the service would continue to intensify its enforcement operations. The NCS plans to sustain intelligence-led strategies to safeguard public health, national security, and the nation's economy.

The seized vegetable oil products remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service. Legal action will commence after the conclusion of investigations. The service reiterated its resolve to curb smuggling and protect legitimate businesses operating within Nigeria's regulatory framework.