Daud Olatunji
The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 6,035 parcels of suspected cannabis, including Ghana Loud/Indica, alongside 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice and other prohibited items with a combined duty-paid value of ₦3.57bn.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller OO Afenif, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State.
Afenif said the seizures were made from June 24, 2026, as part of intensified operations against smuggling along the nation’s borders.
The items seized also included 70 cartons of basmati rice, 30 bags of foreign sugar, 67 bales of second-hand clothing, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 3,760 pieces of new tops, 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit stored in kegs, 1,750 litres of PMS in drums and 30 kegs of diesel.
Other intercepted goods were 100 bags of fertiliser, 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.
The command said it had formally handed over the seized narcotics to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and prosecution.
Afenif said the latest seizure was part of a sustained crackdown on drug trafficking and the smuggling of prohibited goods through the Ogun border corridors.
He disclosed that from January 2026 to date, the command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw cannabis sativa to the NDLEA in Idiroko.
Describing the operation as an inter-agency effort, the customs boss said the growing sophistication of smugglers had made intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement crucial to securing Nigeria’s borders.
He said, “The fight against drug smuggling is a collective responsibility. The Ogun I Command, under my leadership, remains resolute in its commitment to securing our borders and safeguarding our nation’s future.”
Afenif warned smugglers and their collaborators that the command would continue to seize contraband, impound vehicles and prosecute offenders.
He also appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and residents of border communities to report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.
On the economic implications of smuggling, the controller said the influx of foreign rice and other prohibited imports was undermining local farmers, manufacturers and businesses.
According to him, smuggled agricultural products deprive Nigerian farmers of markets, discourage investment and undermine the Federal Government’s drive towards food self-sufficiency.
He urged Nigerians to patronise locally produced rice and other domestic products, saying such patronage would support jobs and strengthen the local economy.
The Customs boss also disclosed that the command generated ₦90,066,164 in July from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, PMS and other charges.
On exports, he said the command recorded 10,110 metric tonnes with a Free On Board value of ₦2.594bn.
He listed white talc, crushed thermal coal and compressed natural gas among the major drivers of the recorded export volume.
Afenif stressed that the Customs Service was not only a revenue-generating agency but also played a critical role in protecting domestic industries and national security.
He said the command would continue to deploy intelligence, technology and enforcement operations to disrupt smuggling networks operating through the Ogun border.
He added that the command had become increasingly hostile to smugglers and would sustain the pressure against those attempting to use the border as a transit route for narcotics and other prohibited goods.
While urging the media to distinguish legitimate trade from illicit activities in their reports, Afenif called for continued public enlightenment and cooperation to improve voluntary compliance with customs regulations.
The Customs official commended officers of the command for their commitment to border enforcement and also acknowledged the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in strengthening operational effectiveness across the service.
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