Ogun I Customs seizes 4,013 cannabis wraps, rice, vehicles, unregistered drugs in 15-day blitz

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 4,013 wraps of suspected cannabis, foreign parboiled rice, vehicles and unregistered pharmaceutical products in a 15-day enforcement operation, with the seizures having a combined duty-paid value of ₦3.15 billion.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, disclosed this on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during a press briefing, describing the seizures as part of the command’s intensified efforts to combat smuggling, protect public health and safeguard government revenue.

Ibrahim, who assumed leadership of the command on September 29, said the operation reflected the command’s resolve to strengthen border surveillance and prevent the movement of prohibited and improperly imported goods through Ogun State.

According to him, the seizures included five trucks and other vehicles, foreign parboiled rice, suspected cannabis, unregistered pharmaceutical products and other restricted items intercepted by officers during the period under review.

He said the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and enforcement activities to discourage smugglers and other economic saboteurs from exploiting the country’s borders.

The seizure of 4,013 wraps of suspected cannabis underscored the command’s role in preventing the circulation of illicit substances, while the interception of unregistered pharmaceutical products highlighted concerns over the potential risks posed by medicines that have not met applicable regulatory requirements.

Ibrahim said the command was making arrangements to hand over the seized cannabis to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and appropriate action.

The proposed handover is expected to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in tackling drug trafficking and the movement of illicit substances.

The command also reiterated its commitment to enforcing customs laws, curbing revenue leakages and facilitating legitimate trade, stressing that trade facilitation would not be allowed to undermine national security or public safety.

The latest seizures add to the enforcement challenges confronting the command, which operates in a border environment vulnerable to the smuggling of rice, vehicles, pharmaceutical products and other prohibited or improperly imported goods.

Ibrahim called for continued cooperation among security and regulatory agencies, as well as public support, to strengthen anti-smuggling operations and protect the nation’s economic interests.