The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Eastern Marine Command, has intercepted 112 pneumatic tyres and 680 cartons of smuggled cosmetics along the Oron/Ibaka–Cameroon waterways.
The seizures were made during an intelligence-led operation conducted by officers of the Command as part of efforts to curb smuggling, enforce import regulations and prevent unsafe products from entering the Nigerian market.
The Acting Comptroller of Eastern Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC) Esien Etim Esiet, said the operation was aimed at protecting lives and safeguarding legitimate businesses from the adverse effects of illicit trade.
Esiet said the 112 pneumatic tyres were found to be unsafe, substandard and improperly stored, conditions which could expose motorists and other road users to tyre failures, blowouts and potentially fatal accidents.
He added that the 680 cartons of cosmetics were intercepted over improper documentation, lack of required safety certification and suspicions that some of the products contained banned or toxic substances.
“Whether it is substandard vehicle tyres that threaten lives on our highways or unverified cosmetic chemicals that endanger public health, we will continue to disrupt these illegal supply chains and bring perpetrators to justice,” he said.
The Acting Area Controller said the interception also highlighted the need to protect legitimate businesses and local manufacturers from unfair competition arising from the illegal importation of goods without payment of appropriate duties or compliance with regulatory requirements.
He said the Command’s sustained operations along the waterways were critical to preventing illicit goods from reaching consumers while protecting government revenue and promoting a level playing field for businesses operating within the law.
Esiet commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for providing logistics and operational equipment that had enhanced the Command’s capacity to conduct sustained anti-smuggling operations across the Eastern waterways.
He also praised officers of the Command for their vigilance, professionalism and commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime borders.
The Customs Service said the latest interception underscored its broader efforts to disrupt illicit supply chains and prevent potentially harmful products from reaching the Nigerian market.
