…Seizes 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud, 2,339 bags of foreign rice, other contraband worth N3.57bn
The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs operating along the nation’s border corridors that it will continue to make the command a hostile territory for their illicit activities.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode O. Afeni, gave the warning on Thursday while parading a large cache of smuggled prohibited items intercepted by the command at Idiroko and other border corridors.
Afeni said the command’s sustained operations had led to the seizure of 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice and 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, among other prohibited goods, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3,574,435,248.08.
Other items seized include 30 bags of foreign sugar, 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in kegs, 1,750 litres of PMS in drums, 30 kegs of diesel, 100 bags of fertilizer, 67 bales of second-hand clothing, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 3,760 pieces of new tops, 85 fire extinguishers, 480 cartons of Pure Heaven drinks, 53 packages of oats, 47 cartons of cosmetics, 36 packages of hair accessories, three packages of surgical shoes and 127 new purses.
Afeni, who described smuggling as economic sabotage, said the command would deploy intelligence, technology and enhanced enforcement measures to disrupt the activities of smugglers and protect Nigeria’s domestic economy.
He warned smugglers and their collaborators against using Ogun I as a transit route for prohibited goods, declaring that the command would continue to seize their consignments, impound vehicles and ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law.
According to him, the renewed offensive against smuggling is also aimed at supporting the Federal Government’s agricultural policies, particularly efforts to boost local rice production and achieve food self-sufficiency.
He urged Nigerians to patronise locally produced goods, stressing that the consumption of locally manufactured products would support farmers, create employment and strengthen the national economy.
Afeni disclosed that from January 2026 to date, the Ogun I Area Command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw cannabis sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command.
Formally handing over the latest consignment of cannabis-related substances to the NDLEA, Afeni said the collaboration between both agencies was essential to winning the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
Receiving the seized narcotics on behalf of the NDLEA, the Commander, Idiroko Special Area Command, commended the Customs Service for its vigilance, professionalism and commitment to national security.
The NDLEA commander, speaking on behalf of the agency’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), said the seizure and handover demonstrated the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling illicit drug trafficking, particularly within the border environment.
He assured that the seized substances would be properly documented, investigated and handled in accordance with established procedures and the law.
The NDLEA commander further pledged that the Idiroko Special Area Command would strengthen its partnership with the Customs Service and other security agencies to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect communities, particularly the younger generation.
Afeni also disclosed that the Ogun I Area Command generated N90,066,164 in July 2026 from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable items, PMS and other charges.
On export activities, he said the command recorded 10,110 metric tonnes of exports with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N2,594,078,654, driven mainly by white talc, crushed thermal coal and compressed natural gas (CNG).
The Customs Area Controller called on traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders to support the command by providing information on suspicious activities along border communities.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and support, while also praising officers of the command for their dedication to the fight against smuggling.
Afeni stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service was not only a revenue-generating agency but also a frontline institution protecting Nigeria’s domestic economy and national security.
