Federal Operations Unit Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service in Owerri has dismantled a major vegetable oil smuggling operation after confiscating over 3,310 jerrycans and cartons of illegally imported foreign vegetable oil worth N403.5 million.
The breakthrough came after Customs operatives intercepted two trucks carrying smuggled consignments along key highways in the South-East. The first interception occurred on May 9 at 10 PM along the 9th Miles road in Enugu, while the second took place on June 7 along the Onisha-Agbor highway, both based on credible intelligence.
The seized goods include 3,310 jerrycans of 25-litre Super Delicious vegetable oil, 10 jerrycans of 10-litre Super Delicious vegetable oil, 20 cartons of 5-litre sunflower vegetable oil, and 20 cartons of 3-litre sunflower vegetable oil.
Comptroller Bishir Balogun described the operation as a significant blow against economic saboteurs whose illegal importation activities undermine local industry development, technology transfer, employment generation, and foreign exchange savings for the nation.
He stressed that the enforcement action highlights the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to implementing the NCS Act 2022 as amended and the Federal Government’s protective measures that ban foreign vegetable oil importation to shield domestic producers.
Balogun urged all persons involved in smuggling and criminal networks to stop their activities immediately.
He assured that the Service will persist with intelligence-driven operations to safeguard public health, national security, and the country’s economic interests.
The confiscated vegetable oil remains under Customs custody while investigators continue their work and initiate appropriate legal proceedings against the perpetrators.