RismadarVoice Reporters, August 19, 2026
The Nigeria Customs Service, Eastern Marine Command, has intercepted 112 pneumatic tyres and 680 cartons of suspected smuggled cosmetics during an intelligence-led operation along the Oron/Ibaka–Cameroon waterways.
The seizures were made as part of the command’s efforts to prevent the movement of illicit and potentially hazardous goods into the country and enforce compliance with import regulations.
The Acting Comptroller of the Eastern Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Esien Etim Esiet, said the operation was also aimed at protecting consumers and legitimate businesses from the consequences of illegal trade.
Esiet said preliminary findings showed that the 112 tyres were unsafe, substandard and improperly stored.
He warned that the condition of the tyres could pose serious risks to motorists and other road users, including tyre failure, blowouts and potentially fatal road accidents.
The 680 cartons of cosmetics, he said, were intercepted over documentation and regulatory concerns, including the absence of required safety certifications and suspicions that some of the products might contain prohibited or harmful 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,” Esiet said.
The Acting Area Controller said the interception highlighted the need to protect legitimate businesses and local manufacturers from unfair competition created by smuggled products.
He noted that illicit imports not only undermine businesses operating within the law but also deprive the government of revenue because such goods enter the country without the payment of appropriate duties and without meeting regulatory requirements.
Esiet commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for providing the command with logistics and operational equipment that had enhanced its ability to conduct sustained surveillance and enforcement operations along the Eastern waterways.
He also praised officers of the command for their vigilance and professionalism, saying their efforts had strengthened the protection of Nigeria’s maritime borders.
The Customs Service said the operation reflected its broader commitment to preventing illicit and potentially dangerous products from reaching consumers while protecting government revenue and promoting fair competition among businesses.
