Customs seize N403m smuggled vegetable oil consignment

The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Owerri, has intercepted a large consignment of foreign-smuggled vegetable oil with a duty-paid value of N403.4 million, following intelligence-led operations across two locations in the South-East.

The Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Bishir Balogun, announced on Monday that operatives intercepted two trucks carrying the consignment — one along the 9th Mile area of Enugu in May and another along the Onitsha-Agbor Highway in June 2026.

The seized items include 3,310 jerrycans of Super Delicious vegetable oil of 25 litres each, 10 jerrycans of the same brand in 10-litre sizes, 20 cartons of 5-litre Sunflower vegetable oil and 20 cartons of 3-litre Sunflower vegetable oil, among others.

“The duty-paid value of the seized items is N403.4 million. 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.

He said the operation demonstrates the service’s commitment to enforcing the NCS Act 2022 and the Federal Government’s fiscal and protective measures that prohibit the importation of foreign vegetable oil, warning that the service would continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies to protect public health, national security and the domestic economy.

The confiscated items remain in custody as investigations continue and legal processes commence, Balogun said.