The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, has intensified efforts to protect local industries, recording a major seizure of smuggled vegetable oil valued at ₦403.5 million.
The Unit’s Controller, Comptroller Bishir Balogun, disclosed this during a press briefing held on Monday, 15 June 2026, in Owerri, Imo State. He said the operation was driven by credible intelligence and sustained enforcement strategies deployed by officers of the Unit.
According to Balogun, the seized consignment includes 3,310 jerrycans of 25-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil, 10 jerrycans of 10-litre variants of the same brand, as well as 20 cartons each of 5-litre and 3-litre sunflower vegetable oil.
He revealed that one of the consignments was intercepted at about 10:00 p.m. on 9 May 2026 along the 9th Mile axis in Enugu State, while another was seized on June 7, 2026 along the Onitsha–Agbor Highway, following actionable intelligence.
Balogun described the seizures as a significant setback for smuggling syndicates, noting that the illegal importation of foreign vegetable oil poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s domestic industry.
“This seizure represents a major blow to economic saboteurs whose activities undermine local production, hinder technology transfer, reduce job creation, and deplete foreign exchange earnings’, he said.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to enforcing the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 and upholding the Federal Government’s protective policies, including the prohibition on the importation of foreign vegetable oil.
The Comptroller also warned individuals and groups involved in smuggling to desist, stressing that the Service would continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations to safeguard public health, national security, and the economy.
Balogun added that the seized items remain in Customs custody pending the conclusion of investigations and subsequent legal action.