The Leadership Of Ogun Customs Area Command Intercepts Smuggled Goods Worth N3.57bn, Hands Over Drugs To NDLEA
By Asuquo Nuwak
The Leadership Of Ogun Customs Area Command Intercepts Smuggled Goods Worth N3.57bn, Hands Over Drugs To NDLEA
As part of its intensified efforts to curb smuggling and protect Nigeria’s economic, the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command under the able leadership of Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, has intercepted various consignments of smuggled goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.57 billion.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, who revealed this during a press briefing, said the seizures were recorded from June 24, 2026, to date, following sustained intelligence-led operations across the command’s areas of responsibility.
Official report from Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni said the items seized included 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, 30 bags of foreign sugar, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 13,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 30 kegs of diesel, 100 bags of fertiliser and 67 bales of second-hand clothing.
Further breakdown of the seized items, according to the Acting Customs Area Controller, included 3,760 pieces of new tops, 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, with the total Duty Paid Value of the seized goods at N3,574,435,248.08.
Additionally, he said the seizures demonstrated the command’s commitment to protecting local industries, supporting the federal government’s agricultural policies and preventing illicit goods from entering the country through border corridors.
He said the continued smuggling of foreign rice posed a threat to local farmers, agricultural investors and manufacturers, warning that illicit imports could undermine efforts to achieve food security and self-sufficiency.
Official report from the command indicates that the command has intensified its operations through enhanced intelligence gathering, technology-driven surveillance and stronger enforcement measures.
He is quoted as saying that: “Smuggling is an economic sabotage that robs our children of a secure future. No nation can grow when its borders are treated as gateways for criminality”.
He therefore urged Nigerians to support local agricultural production by patronising locally produced goods, particularly rice, saying such support would contribute to job creation, economic growth and food security.
Report said a major component of the seizures was the interception of illicit drugs, including parcels of cannabis variants suspected to be Ghana Loud and Indica.
So far, he said the seized narcotics were being formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command, in line with established procedures and legal requirements.
He recalled that the command had, from January 2026 to date, handed over 32,412 parcels of suspected hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command.
He further described drug smuggling as a serious threat to public safety and national security, noting that illicit drug trafficking could fuel violent crime and other forms of criminality.
Besides, he said the fight against drug trafficking required sustained collaboration among security and law-enforcement agencies, adding that no single agency could effectively secure the country without inter-agency cooperation.
Aside from this, he warned smugglers and drug traffickers that the command would continue to disrupt their activities, seize their consignments and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law.
The Acting Customs Area Controller who disclosed that the Ogun I Area Command generated N90,066,164.00 million revenue in July 2026, also said the revenue was generated through baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, PMS and other charges.
Commenting on export activities, he said the command recorded an export volume of 10,110 metric tonnes, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N2,594,078,654.
Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni who said the major commodities driving the command’s export performance which included white talc, crushed thermal coal and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), further said the Nigeria Customs Service was not only a revenue-generating agency, but also played a critical role in protecting the domestic economy and supporting legitimate businesses.
Therefore, he called on traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders in border communities to support the command by providing credible information on suspicious activities.
Similarly, he appealed to consumers to patronise locally produced goods, saying the fight against smuggling could not be won by enforcement alone without the cooperation of the public.
In the same vein, he commended officers and men of the command for their commitment to anti-smuggling operations and appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, for his leadership and support.
At the end of the press briefing, he said the command would sustain its operations and ensure that Ogun I Area Command remained a hostile operating environment for smugglers and other economic saboteurs.
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