Customs seized 397 vehicles in 2024 – CGC

The Nigeria Customs Service said that it recorded 397 seizures of vehicles valued at N5.64bn in 2024, as it continued to enforce import regulations and protect government revenue.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adenbiyi, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during a press briefing on the service’s activities for 2024.

According to him, “the service recorded significant seizures of other restricted items, including 3,785 bales of textiles valued at N945m, 183,527 bags of rice, various quantities of footwear, beverages, and other consumer goods, protecting local industries and supporting the government’s economic diversification agenda.”

“The service also recorded 397 seizures of vehicles valued at N5.64bn, as we continue to enforce import regulations and protect government revenue,” Adeniyi said.

The CGC also highlighted that through the efforts of Operation Whirlwind, launched earlier in the year with the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority under the Nigeria Petroleum Corporation Limited, “the service seized 1,716,656 litres of petroleum products from saboteurs diverting the products to neighbouring countries.”

“Most significantly, our enforcement activities have yielded 55 arrests of suspects currently under investigation as we continue to dismantle the criminal networks behind these activities,” he said.

Adeniyi emphasised that the comprehensive approach to enforcement is aligned with both national security objectives and international obligations, stressing that it positions the NCS as a crucial actor in the nation’s security architecture as they continue to facilitate legitimate trade.

 The customs boss stated that to further strengthen their enforcement capabilities, the Service is actively expanding its technological infrastructure through the integration of geospatial technology and other cutting-edge solutions.

“These technological advancements, coupled with capacity building and enhanced intelligence-gathering mechanisms, will significantly boost our surveillance and enforcement operations. The integration of these modern tools with our existing frameworks is a strategic investment in the future of Customs enforcement to ensure that we stay ahead of emerging threats as we continue to facilitate legitimate trade,” he concluded.