Customs Intercepts N3.57bn Contraband in Ogun

​IDIROKO, OGUN STATE — The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has dealt a heavy blow to smuggling syndicates operating within the border corridors, intercepting illicit goods with a staggering duty-paid value of N3.57bn.

​Acting Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni, made the disclosure on Thursday while briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko. The massive haul was amassed during a rigorous enforcement window spanning from June 24 to August 13, 2026.

​According to the command, the intercepted contraband includes 6,035 parcels of cannabis (specifically Ghana Loud and Indica), 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, and 30 bags of foreign sugar. Other seized items comprise 11,450 litres and 1,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in kegs and drums respectively, 30 25-litre kegs of diesel, 100 bags of fertiliser, and 67 bales of second-hand clothing.

​Law enforcement officers also impounded substantial quantities of general merchandise smuggled into the country without proper documentation, including thousands of pieces of new apparel, 85 fire extinguishers, 480 cartons of Pure Haven drinks, 53 packages of oats, 47 cartons of cosmetics, hair accessories, surgical shoes, and 127 new purses. The cumulative duty-paid value for the entire seizure stands at N3,574,435,248.08.

​Economic and Security Threats

​Addressing the press, Afeni strongly condemned the narrative often pushed by perpetrators that smuggling is a harmless commercial enterprise. He emphasized that the clandestine importation of foreign grain directly sabotages the heavy investments made by the Federal Government and local entrepreneurs toward achieving national food self-sufficiency.

​”When foreign rice is smuggled into our markets, it undermines our local farmers and agricultural investors… By buying smuggled foreign grain instead of locally processed rice, we effectively export jobs to other countries while worsening unemployment and poverty at home,” Afeni stated.

​On the security front, the Customs chief highlighted the severe societal dangers posed by the influx of illicit narcotics. He noted that the intercepted cannabis and its potent variants fuel violent crime in neighbourhoods and destroy the futures of young Nigerians.

​Demonstrating inter-agency cooperation, the command formally handed over the seized narcotics to the Idiroko Special Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and destruction. Afeni revealed that the command has handed over a total of 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis sativa to the NDLEA since January 2026.

​Revenue and Exports

​Beyond enforcement and anti-smuggling operations, the Ogun I Command recorded notable achievements in revenue generation and non-oil exports for the period under review.

​The command generated N90,066,164 in July 2026 alone, accruing from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, PMS, and related charges. Additionally, a total export volume of 10,110 metric tonnes was recorded, carrying a Free On Board (FOB) value of N2,594,078,654.

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​A Stern Warning to Smugglers

​Afeni issued a final, unyielding warning to cross-border criminal syndicates, declaring that the command’s technological capabilities and intelligence networks have evolved to outpace illicit operators.

​”To the syndicates and smugglers who think they can use Ogun I Command as a transit route for poison, hear this clearly: We are adapting faster than you are. If you do not trade legitimately, we will continue to seize your goods, impound your vehicles, and send you to prison,” he cautioned.

​The Customs leadership appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders, and residents living in border communities to foster national security by actively reporting suspicious movements. Citizens were likewise urged to patronize locally produced goods to bolster domestic industries and strengthen the national economy.