The Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized contraband goods worth N1.35 billion and handed over 2,547 parcels of Cannabis Sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Idiroko Special Command.
The contraband, intercepted from various locations across the state, included 2,539 kegs of vegetable oil, 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 545 kegs of petrol, 50 bags of imported sugar, 13 used tyres, eight bales of second-hand clothing, two used vehicles, and other prohibited items.
Addressing journalists at the command headquarters on Monday, Acting Customs Area Controller, Olukayode Afeni, said the items were smuggled into Nigeria through creeks and border routes, highlighting the persistent challenge of illicit trade in essential commodities.
Afeni disclosed that among the cannabis parcels handed over to the NDLEA were 2,055 coconut-sized parcels weighing 710kg and 15 bread-sized parcels weighing 381kg.
He recounted a notable seizure on March 11, 2026, where officers intercepted a truck with registration number APP-740-YD near Agbaraaxis carrying 2,539 kegs of vegetable oil, each containing 25 litres.
Another earlier operation on March 4 saw a Sino truck loaded with 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti confiscated.
“The command, backed by the Comptroller General, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, remains committed to suppressing smuggling and ensuring illicit goods are removed from the market,” Afeni said.
“Investigations into these operations are ongoing to ensure all culprits are brought to justice.”
Other seized items included 545 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (13,625 litres), four live pangolins handed over to Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation, 36 cartons of Bardinet syrup, eight packs of perfume oil, 15 sacks of used ladies’ handbags, two sacks of used footwear, and two antiquities which were transferred to the National Museum and Baptist Girls’ College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, to preserve cultural heritage.
The total duty paid on the seized goods was N1,350,751,000 (One billion, three hundred and fifty million, seven hundred and fifty-one thousand naira).
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