The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted prohibited goods with a combined duty-paid value of ₦3.57 billion as part of its intensified crackdown on smuggling along the nation’s border corridors.
The Acting Customs Area Controller of the command, Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday while parading the seized items at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State.
According to Afeni, the seizures were made between June 24 and August 13, 2026, following intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance and enforcement operations.
Among the items seized were 6,035 parcels of cannabis, 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 30 bags of foreign sugar and 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit stored in kegs.
The command also intercepted 1,750 litres of PMS in drums, 30 25-litre kegs of diesel, 100 bags of fertiliser, 67 bales of second-hand clothing, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, and 3,760 pieces of new tops.
Other seized items included 85 fire extinguishers, 480 cartons of Pure Haven drinks, 53 packages of oats, 47 cartons of cosmetics, 36 packages of hair accessories, three packages of surgical shoes and 127 new purses.
Afeni said the total duty-paid value of the seized goods stood at ₦3,574,435,248.08.
He said Customs had strengthened its operations through intelligence-led enforcement and the use of technology, warning smugglers and criminal syndicates that the command would make it increasingly difficult for them to operate along the Ogun border.
Afeni also condemned the smuggling of foreign rice, saying it undermined local farmers, agricultural investors and the Federal Government’s efforts to achieve food security and promote domestic production.
He noted that the continued influx of smuggled foreign rice could drive local mills out of business, increase unemployment and weaken efforts to develop Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
According to him, patronising smuggled foreign rice effectively sends economic opportunities and jobs outside the country while worsening unemployment and poverty domestically.
On the cannabis seizures, the Customs chief said the trafficking of Ghana Loud, Colorado and Cannabis sativa posed a serious threat to young Nigerians and communities.
He disclosed that the command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command between January 2026 and August 2026.
Afeni stressed that cooperation between Customs and other security agencies remained essential to tackling drug trafficking and cross-border criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the command generated ₦90,066,164 in July 2026 from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, PMS and other charges.
The command also recorded an export volume of 10,110 metric tonnes, with a Free On Board value of ₦2,594,078,654 during the period under review.
Afeni warned smugglers against using Ogun border routes as transit corridors for prohibited goods, saying Customs would continue to seize contraband, impound vehicles and prosecute offenders.
He appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and residents of border communities to support security agencies by providing information about suspicious activities.
The Acting Controller urged Nigerians to patronise locally produced agricultural and manufactured goods, particularly locally processed rice, saying increased patronage would strengthen domestic industries, create jobs and improve food security.
He commended officers of the Ogun I Area Command for their efforts and acknowledged the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The seized narcotics were subsequently handed over to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command for further investigation in line with established procedures.
