Customs intercept N403m foreign vegetable oil shipment

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Owerri, has announced the interception of a large consignment of foreign-smuggled vegetable oil with a duty-paid value of N403.4m.

The unit described the seizure as a result of strategic intelligence coordination and coordinated operational activities by its officers. The Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Bishir Balogun, announced this in a statement on Monday obtained by The PUNCH.

Balogun said the seizures included 3,310 jerrycans of Super Delicious vegetable oil, 25 litres each; 10 jerrycans of Super Delicious vegetable oil, 10 litres each; 20 cartons of 5-litre Sunflower vegetable oil; and 20 cartons of 3-litre Sunflower vegetable oil, among others.

He explained that following credible intelligence, operatives of the unit intercepted two trucks carrying the consignment in May along the 9th Mile area of Enugu and another along the Onitsha-Agbor Highway in June 2026.

“The duty-paid value of the seized items is N403.4m. This seizure represents a major blow to economic saboteurs whose illegal importation of foreign vegetable oil undermines local industry, technology transfer, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings,” Balogun said.

Balogun emphasised that the operation demonstrates the service’s firm commitment to enforcing the NCS Act 2022 (as amended) and the Federal Government’s fiscal and protective measures that prohibit the importation of foreign vegetable oil.

While urging those engaged in smuggling and related criminal networks to cease their activities, Balogun warned that the service would continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies to protect public health, national security and the domestic economy.

“The confiscated jerrycans and cartons remain in custody as investigations continue and appropriate legal processes commence,” he stressed.