The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt II Command, has intercepted 75 containers linked to illicit trade with a total Duty Paid Value of N47.6 billion, reinforcing its crackdown on smuggling and unlawful imports.
The seizure was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Theophilus Duniya. According to the Customs Area Controller, Aliyu Alkali, 30 of the containers were found to contain expired, unregistered and illicit pharmaceutical products, posing serious risks to public health and safety.
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Alkali explained that the remaining consignments were seized for violating various provisions of the Customs and Excise laws. He attributed the successful interceptions to the professionalism, diligence and patriotic commitment of officers of the Command, noting that their uncompromising enforcement posture was key to the operation.
Beyond enforcement, the Area Controller revealed that the Port Harcourt II Command recorded a total revenue collection of N731.2 billion in 2025. This figure, he said, exceeded the Command’s annual target by 104.46 per cent and also surpassed the revenue generated in 2024.
Alkali credited the strong revenue performance to the effective implementation of the Comptroller-General of Customs’ policy direction and the deployment of the indigenous Unified Customs Management System, which has improved efficiency and accelerated cargo clearance processes.
He added that the Command maintained strict adherence to standard operating procedures, upheld discipline among officers and sustained regular engagement with key stakeholders to enhance compliance.
Expressing appreciation to the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for providing an enabling environment, Alkali also acknowledged the cooperation of stakeholders. He urged importers and licensed customs agents to make honest declarations, assuring that the Command remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade while enforcing regulations with integrity and professionalism.
