The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, has clarified that what it seized along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor was not an explosive but high-grade mercury, a dual-purpose chemical with serious environmental and security implications under ‘Operation Hawk’
In an eight-week crackdown ending this week, FOU ‘A’ intercepted contraband worth over ₦5.5 billion, including narcotics and the hazardous chemical, in what Comptroller Gambo Aliyu described as a major blow to criminal networks operating across the South-West.
Speaking to Newsmen at Customs Training College, Ikeja Lagos, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Gsmbo Aliyu said his men and Officers at the Gbaji Outpost discovered four cylinders of mercury concealed in the false bottom of a Toyota Avensis trunk. The chemical was confirmed to be high-grade mercury, commonly and illegally used in small-scale gold mining.
The CAC further stressed that while mercury is not an explosive, it is a dual-purpose substance regulated under the Minamata Convention on Mercury due to its severe environmental and health hazards.
“Its illegal movement raises serious concerns,” Aliyu said. “Beyond environmental damage, such chemicals can be misused in criminal activities, and their smuggling undermines international controls meant to protect public safety.”
The Minamata Convention restricts mercury trade because of its toxicity to humans and ecosystems. Its presence on Nigeria’s smuggling routes has raised alarms among environmental and security experts, particularly with the 2027 elections approaching and fears that such materials could fall into the wrong hands.
The unit also recorded its biggest narcotics bust in recent months: 6.35kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of ₦2.35 billion, concealed in a Toyota Highlander and smuggled by a 71-year-old suspect. In a separate operation codenamed “Operation Hawk,” officers intercepted 3,340 parcels of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as “Ghanaian loud,” weighing 1,540kg.
Security analysts warn that the influx of hard drugs during election seasons often fuels violence, as narcotics are used to fund criminal gangs and to induce or control political enforcers and voters.
“Drug trafficking is destroying lives and families. Our focus is to break the supply chain and reduce its impact on society,” Aliyu said. Both the cocaine and cannabis have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for further investigation and prosecution.
The command under the operation hawk made seizures of 8,794 bags of 50kg foreign rice, about 15 trailer loads, 22 used vehicles, 328 bales of second-hand clothing, 31,705 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, 531 cartons of foreign poultry products, 1,188 kegs of vegetable oil, 485 used tyres, and several cartons of spaghetti and sugar.
In total, the unit foiled 473 smuggling attempts and recovered ₦97.7 million through Demand Notices issued on under-declared consignments.
While rice and fuel do not pose immediate physical danger like narcotics, their smuggling drains government revenue and distorts markets — conditions that can worsen economic hardship and public frustration ahead of elections.
Nigeria’s election cycles have often coincided with increased arms and drug flows. The interception of mercury alongside cocaine and synthetic cannabis underscores how smuggling networks diversify their cargo, blending economic contraband with hazardous materials.
The Lagos-Abidjan corridor has long been a major route for transnational smuggling, and security officials say it remains a vulnerability that criminal groups could exploit during politically sensitive periods.
Aliyu said the command is now deploying geospatial intelligence, drone surveillance, and real-time tracking to strengthen border security. “Our focus is to break the supply chain and reduce the impact on society,” he reiterated.
Although mercury is not classified as an explosive, its illegal trafficking is a red flag for regulatory and environmental safety. The Minamata Convention requires strict controls, and Nigeria’s porous borders make enforcement difficult.
For 2027, the real concern is not just ballot security but the broader environment in which elections are held. Unchecked smuggling of dangerous chemicals and drugs can weaken state authority, fuel criminality, and create conditions that threaten peaceful polls.
As Aliyu put it: “We remain calm and focused on safeguarding the South-West against these saboteurs.” For now, FOU ‘A’ says it is keeping watch — and keeping seizures coming.